A comparison of public policies for lead recycling

Hilary A. Sigman

doi:https://doi.org/10.2307/2555998

A comparison of public policies for lead recycling

Hilary A. Sigman

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

61 Scopus citations

Abstract

Policies that encourage recycling may be used to reduce environmental costs from waste disposal because direct restrictions on disposal are difficult io enforce. Four recycling policies have been advanced: (i) taxes on the use of virgin materials, (ii) deposit/refund programs, (Hi) subsidies to recycled material production, and (iv) recycled content standards. In this article, I analyze the structure of these policies and their cost-effectiveness in achieving reductions in disposal. I then examine the policies in the empirical context of the recycling of lead from automobile batteries. In order to calculate the effects of lead recycling programs, I estimate the elasticities for primary and secondary lead supply and demand. My results suggest that price-based policy mechanisms can be successful in increasing lead recovery and that the difference in efficiency between the four approaches is substantial.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	452-478
Number of pages	27
Journal	RAND Journal of Economics
Volume	26
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2307/2555998
State	Published - 1995
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Economics and Econometrics

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title = "A comparison of public policies for lead recycling",

abstract = "Policies that encourage recycling may be used to reduce environmental costs from waste disposal because direct restrictions on disposal are difficult io enforce. Four recycling policies have been advanced: (i) taxes on the use of virgin materials, (ii) deposit/refund programs, (Hi) subsidies to recycled material production, and (iv) recycled content standards. In this article, I analyze the structure of these policies and their cost-effectiveness in achieving reductions in disposal. I then examine the policies in the empirical context of the recycling of lead from automobile batteries. In order to calculate the effects of lead recycling programs, I estimate the elasticities for primary and secondary lead supply and demand. My results suggest that price-based policy mechanisms can be successful in increasing lead recovery and that the difference in efficiency between the four approaches is substantial.",

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AB - Policies that encourage recycling may be used to reduce environmental costs from waste disposal because direct restrictions on disposal are difficult io enforce. Four recycling policies have been advanced: (i) taxes on the use of virgin materials, (ii) deposit/refund programs, (Hi) subsidies to recycled material production, and (iv) recycled content standards. In this article, I analyze the structure of these policies and their cost-effectiveness in achieving reductions in disposal. I then examine the policies in the empirical context of the recycling of lead from automobile batteries. In order to calculate the effects of lead recycling programs, I estimate the elasticities for primary and secondary lead supply and demand. My results suggest that price-based policy mechanisms can be successful in increasing lead recovery and that the difference in efficiency between the four approaches is substantial.

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A comparison of public policies for lead recycling

Abstract

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