Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Series: Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers
Creation-Date: 2019-12-24
Number: 19-088/V
Author-Name: Elbert Dijkgraaf
Author-Workplace-Name: Erasmus University Rotterdam
Author-Name: Raymond Gradus
Author-Workplace-Name: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Title: More bottle banks only imply a small increase in recycling of glass in the Netherlands
Abstract: The Netherlands advocates a glass recycling rate of more than 90%. In 2017, the rate is 86%. To reach this goal the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate wants to improve the collection infrastructure by increasing the number of bottle banks with 800 by 2021. However, a cost-effectiveness analysis is lacking. Based on empirical evidence with data from 2007-2017, we show that increasing the number of bottle banks is rather ineffective. Implementing an unit-based pricing system can be more effective, although this can have serious drawbacks.
Classification-JEL: R28, Q53, C13
Keywords: Glass recycling, re-use target, waste infrastructure, local government, Netherlands
File-URL: https://papers.tinbergen.nl/19088.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 403400 bytes
Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20190088