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Curbside Recycling: Waste Resource or Waste of Resources?

Author

Listed:
  • David Aadland
  • Arthur Caplan

Abstract

In this paper, we estimate the social net benefits of curbside recycling. Benefits are estimated using survey data on household willingness to pay (WTP) from over 4,000 households across 40 western U.S. cities. We calibrate WTP for hypothetical bias using an experimental design that contrasts stated and revealed preferences. Cost estimates are compiled from previous studies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Institute for Local Self Reliance, as well as from in-depth interviews with recycling coordinators in our sampled cities. Remarkably, we find that the estimated mean social net benefit of curbside recycling is almost exactly zero. Therefore, the decision of whether to implement or maintain a curbside recycling program (CRP) must be done on a city-by-city basis.

Suggested Citation

  • David Aadland & Arthur Caplan, 2003. "Curbside Recycling: Waste Resource or Waste of Resources?," Working Papers 2003-13, Utah State University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:usu:wpaper:2003-13
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    File URL: https://repec.bus.usu.edu/RePEc/usu/pdf/ERI2003-13.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Chuanhui Liao & Dingtao Zhao & Shuang Zhang & Lanfang Chen, 2018. "Determinants and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Policy Effectiveness on Residents’ Separation Intention for Rural Household Solid Waste," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, April.
    2. Xuan Thi Dan Huynh & Tien Dung Khong & Adam Loch & Huynh Viet Khai, 2023. "Solid waste management program in developing countries: contingent valuation methodology versus choice experiment," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(11), pages 12395-12417, November.
    3. Tongzhe Li & Ana Espínola-Arredondo & Jill J. McCluskey, 2016. "Promoting Residential Recycling: An Alternative Policy Based on a Recycling Reward System," Games, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-18, August.
    4. Arthur Caplan & Douglas Jackson-Smith & Sandy Marquart-Pyatt, 2010. "Does 'free-sampling' enhance the value of public goods?," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(4), pages 335-339.
    5. Yifei Zhou, 2024. "Analysis of Zero-Waste City Policy in China: Based on Three-Dimensional Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Julian J. Hwang, 2024. "The economic value of curbside recycling as a club good and as a public good: A case study of Morgantown and Monongalia County, West Virginia," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 83(4), pages 741-751, September.
    7. W. Kip Viscusi, 2022. "Efficiency criteria for nudges and norms," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 191(3), pages 465-482, June.
    8. Abderahman Rejeb & Karim Rejeb & Suhaiza Zailani & Yasanur Kayikci & John G. Keogh, 2023. "Examining Knowledge Diffusion in the Circular Economy Domain: a Main Path Analysis," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 125-166, March.
    9. Ghalehkhondabi, Iman & Maihami, Reza & Ahmadi, Ehsan, 2020. "Optimal pricing and environmental improvement for a hazardous waste disposal supply chain with emission penalties," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    10. Min Gong & David Aadland, 2011. "Interview Effects in an Environmental Valuation Telephone Survey," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 49(1), pages 47-64, May.
    11. Schill, Marie & Shaw, Deirdre, 2016. "Recycling today, sustainability tomorrow: Effects of psychological distance on behavioural practice," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 349-362.
    12. Antonio Massarutto & Francesco Silvestri, 2015. "Free municipal waste trade as an incentive to recycling. A theoretical study," ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2015(3), pages 89-107.
    13. Berck, Peter & Sears, Molly & Taylor, Rebecca L.C. & Trachtman, Carly & Villas-Boas, Sofia B., 2024. "Reduce, reuse, redeem: Deposit-refund recycling programs in the presence of alternatives," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    14. Dylan Brewer & Samantha Cameron, 2025. "Habit and skill retention in recycling," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(2), pages 533-552, March.
    15. Gorm Kipperberg & Douglas Larson, 2012. "Heterogeneous Preferences for Community Recycling Programs," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 53(4), pages 577-604, December.
    16. Dominique Ami & Frédéric Aprahamian & Olivier Chanel & Stéphane Luchini, 2011. "A Test of Cheap Talk in Different Hypothetical Contexts: The Case of Air Pollution," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 50(1), pages 111-130, September.
    17. Lihini Silva & Rebecca L. C. Taylor, 2024. "If You Build It, Will They Compost? The Effects of Municipal Composting Services on Household Waste Disposal and Landfill Emissions," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 87(3), pages 761-789, March.
    18. Bohara, Alok K. & Caplan, Arthur J. & Grijalva, Therese, 2007. "The effect of experience and quantity-based pricing on the valuation of a curbside recycling program," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(2), pages 433-443, December.
    19. Viscusi, W. Kip & Huber, Joel & Bell, Jason, 2023. "Changes in household recycling behavior: Evidence from panel data," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    20. Xiaoyue Liu & Jeongsoo Yu & Kazuaki Okubo & Masahiro Sato & Toshiaki Aoki, 2021. "Case Study on the Efficiency of Recycling Companies’ Waste Paper Collection Stations in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-13, October.
    21. Wagner, Jeffrey, 2011. "Incentivizing sustainable waste management," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(4), pages 585-594, February.
    22. Brian Chi-ang Lin & Siqi Zheng & Ankinée Kirakozian, 2016. "One Without The Other? Behavioural And Incentive Policies For Household Waste Management," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(3), pages 526-551, July.
    23. Caplan, Arthur J. & Sims, Charles & Anderson, Elliot Jordan, 2014. "Measuring the environmental cost of hypocrisy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 124-135.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • Q26 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Recreational Aspects of Natural Resources
    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities

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