The Economics of Household Garbage and Recycling Behavior (New Horizons in Environmental Economics series)

The market for residential solid waste management and disposal has experienced dramatic changes since the 1980s. This collection of published research examines these changes and analyzes the strategies popularized by municipal governments. Kerbside recycling is available to 46 per cent of Americans. Thousands of towns across the nation have also implemented user fees requiring households to pay a fee for every bag of garbage they generate. These policy shifts have attracted the attention of environmental economists interested in knowing the best strategy for managing solid waste. The editors of this volume offer theoretical solutions for the optimal pricing of garbage and recycling collection. They provide original data collection and suggest appropriate econometric techniques that correct for statistical biases. A policy focus provides information relevant to municipal governments as well as researchers.