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Discontinuous Behavioral Responses to Recycling Laws and Plastic Water Bottle Deposits

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  • W. Kip Viscusi
  • Joel Huber
  • Jason Bell
  • Caroline Cecot

Abstract

Using a nationally representative sample of 3,158 bottled water users, this article finds that both water bottle deposits and recycling laws foster recycling through a discontinuous effect that converts reluctant recyclers into diligent recyclers. The impact of the warm glow from being an environmentalist and an environmental group member is about equal to that of a 5-cent bottle deposit. Respondents from states with stringent recycling laws and bottle deposits have greater recycling rates. The efficacy of these policy interventions is greater for those who do not already recycle, have lower income, and do not consider themselves to be environmentalists. Copyright 2013, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • W. Kip Viscusi & Joel Huber & Jason Bell & Caroline Cecot, 2013. "Discontinuous Behavioral Responses to Recycling Laws and Plastic Water Bottle Deposits," American Law and Economics Review, American Law and Economics Association, vol. 15(1), pages 110-155.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:amlawe:v:15:y:2013:i:1:p:110-155
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    2. Wang, Xue & Gaustad, Gabrielle & Babbitt, Callie W. & Richa, Kirti, 2014. "Economies of scale for future lithium-ion battery recycling infrastructure," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 53-62.
    3. Crociata, Alessandro & Agovino, Massimiliano & Sacco, Pier Luigi, 2015. "Recycling waste: Does culture matter?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 40-47.
    4. Saphores, Jean-Daniel M. & Nixon, Hilary, 2014. "How effective are current household recycling policies? Results from a national survey of U.S. households," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 1-10.
    5. Viscusi, W. Kip & Huber, Joel & Bell, Jason, 2023. "Changes in household recycling behavior: Evidence from panel data," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    6. Damien BROUSSOLLE, 2017. "Quel Systeme Incitatif Realiste Pour La Politique De Reduction Des Dechets Menagers ? Enseignements Tires De La Litterature Economique Et Du Cas Français / What Workable Incentive Scheme For The Reduc," Working Papers of LaRGE Research Center 2017-11, Laboratoire de Recherche en Gestion et Economie (LaRGE), Université de Strasbourg.
    7. Napp, T.A. & Few, S. & Sood, A. & Bernie, D. & Hawkes, A. & Gambhir, A., 2019. "The role of advanced demand-sector technologies and energy demand reduction in achieving ambitious carbon budgets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 351-367.
    8. Cécile Bazart & Dimitri Dubois & Kate Farrow & Lisette Ibanez & Alain Marciano & Nathalie Moureau & Rustam Romaniuc & Julie Rosaz & Sébastien Roussel, 2017. "NORMES : NORmes sociales, Motivations Externes et internes, et politiques publiqueS," Working Papers hal-02938187, HAL.

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    JEL classification:

    • K23 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Regulated Industries and Administrative Law
    • K32 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Energy, Environmental, Health, and Safety Law
    • Q50 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - General
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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