Waste - Recycling

Title

Production planning for vehicle recycling factories in the EU legislative and global business environments

Reference

Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Volume 60, March 2012, Pages 78–88

Author(s)

Vladimir Simic, Branka Dimitrijevic

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

End-of-life vehicles (ELVs) are a priority in the EU waste flow, and data show that as many as 6.34 million vehicles were processed in 2008. This paper focuses on the production process in a vehicle recycling factory. It presents a tactical production planning problem for vehicle recycling factories in the EU legislative and global business environments. The problem is formulated as a linear program, which provides optimal storage, processing and recovery, recycling and landfill disposal route decisions. The proposed model can not only help vehicle recycling factories improve their eco-efficiency and profitability but also answer many important questions. The present paper deals with questions regarding which costs should be set in EU member states for landfill disposal, combustion in municipal solid waste incinerators and processing in advanced thermal treatment plants so that the ELV Directive can have the most positive eco-effect on the vehicle recycling factory business. The cost increase for landfill disposal will not always reduce the quantity of disposed automobile shredder residue (ASR). The influence of the ELV Directive on the vehicle recycling factory business is analysed. Future quotas will not endanger their profitability. Comprehensive testing of the proposed model showed that the control of the recycling system efficiency should be done at the system level because it will in no way jeopardise the ELV Directive objectives.

Policy theme(s)

Sustainable consumption and production >> Sustainable production >> Sustainable manufacturing processes
Waste >> Waste management
Waste >> Waste management >> Recycling

Keywords

End-of-life vehicles; ELV Directive; Vehicle recycling factory; Automobile shredder residue; Reverse production planning; Environment

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

View this study at:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092134491100245X
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Contact the study author at:

vsima@sf.bg.ac.rs

Title

Taxing virgin natural resources: Lessons from aggregates taxation in Europe

Reference

Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Volume 55, Issue 11, September 2011, Pages 911-922

Author(s)

Patrik Söderholm

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

The objective of this review paper is to analyze the efficiency of environmentally motivated taxes on virgin raw materials. We analyze both the economic–theoretical foundations of virgin natural resource taxation, and the empirical experiences of aggregates taxes i.e., taxes on, for instance, gravel, rock, stone, etc. in three European countries. These include Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom. The theoretical analysis indicates that taxing natural resource output or use typically represents a ‘second-best’ policy alternative, which can be used when, for instance, the monitoring of non-point source emissions is difficult or efficient property rights regimes cannot be established. The empirical analysis shows that the European aggregate taxes have assisted in reducing virgin resource use in spite of the relatively low own-price responses. However, generators of recycled materials typically have few incentives to enhance their waste sorting activities in the presence of a tax on virgin materials. Unless additional policies to increase the supply of recycled materials are implemented, supply will not increase much even in the presence of high demand. Finally, although second-best taxes are sometimes motivated by the desire to keep administration costs low, they could come at the cost of improper incentives and of limited policy legitimacy

Policy theme(s)

Resource efficiency >> Materials >> Material efficiency
Sustainable development and policy assessment >> Sustainable economic development >> Sustainable business and industry
Waste >> Waste management >> Recycling

Keywords

Virgin natural resources, Environmental taxes, Recycling, Aggregates

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

View this study at:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344911000942
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Contact the study author at:

patrik.soderholm@ltu.se

Title

Solid waste management in European countries: A review of systems analysis techniques

Reference

Journal of Environmental Management
Volume 92, Issue 4, April 2011, Pages 1033-1050

Author(s)

Ana Pires, Graça Martinho and Ni-Bin Chang

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

In the past few decades, solid waste management systems in Europe have involved complex and multi-faceted trade-offs among a plethora of technological alternatives, economic instruments, and regulatory frameworks. These changes resulted in various environmental, economic, social, and regulatory impacts in waste management practices which not only complicate regional policy analysis, but also reshape the paradigm of global sustainable development. Systems analysis, a discipline that harmonizes these integrated solid waste management strategies, has been uniquely providing interdisciplinary support for decision making in this area. Systems engineering models and system assessment tools, both of which enrich the analytical framework of waste management, were designed specifically to handle particular types of problems. Though how to smooth out the barriers toward achieving appropriate systems synthesis and integration of these models and tools to aid in the solid waste management schemes prevalent in European countries still remains somewhat uncertain. This paper conducts a thorough literature review of models and tools illuminating possible overlapped boundaries in waste management practices in European countries and encompassing the pros and cons of waste management practices in each member state of the European Union. Whereas the Southern European Union (EU) countries need to develop further measures to implement more integrated solid waste management and reach EU directives, the Central EU countries need models and tools with which to rationalize their technological choices and management strategies. Nevertheless, considering systems analysis models and tools in a synergistic way would certainly provide opportunities to develop better solid waste management strategies leading to conformity with current standards and foster future perspectives for both the waste management industry and government agencies in European Union.

Policy theme(s)

Waste >> Waste management >> Landfill
Waste >> Waste management >> Recycling

Keywords

Solid waste management, Systems analysis, Integrated solid waste management, Sustainability

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

View this study at:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479710004275
There is a fee to view this study in full

Contact the study author at:

alp11931@fct.unl.pt

Title

Solid waste management in European countries: A review of systems analysis techniques

Reference

Journal of Environmental Management
Volume 92, Issue 4, April 2011, Pages 1033-1050

Author(s)

Ana Pires, Graça Martinho and Ni-Bin Chang

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

In the past few decades, solid waste management systems in Europe have involved complex and multi-faceted trade-offs among a plethora of technological alternatives, economic instruments, and regulatory frameworks. These changes resulted in various environmental, economic, social, and regulatory impacts in waste management practices which not only complicate regional policy analysis, but also reshape the paradigm of global sustainable development. Systems analysis, a discipline that harmonizes these integrated solid waste management strategies, has been uniquely providing interdisciplinary support for decision making in this area. Systems engineering models and system assessment tools, both of which enrich the analytical framework of waste management, were designed specifically to handle particular types of problems. Though how to smooth out the barriers toward achieving appropriate systems synthesis and integration of these models and tools to aid in the solid waste management schemes prevalent in European countries still remains somewhat uncertain. This paper conducts a thorough literature review of models and tools illuminating possible overlapped boundaries in waste management practices in European countries and encompassing the pros and cons of waste management practices in each member state of the European Union. Whereas the Southern European Union (EU) countries need to develop further measures to implement more integrated solid waste management and reach EU directives, the Central EU countries need models and tools with which to rationalize their technological choices and management strategies. Nevertheless, considering systems analysis models and tools in a synergistic way would certainly provide opportunities to develop better solid waste management strategies leading to conformity with current standards and foster future perspectives for both the waste management industry and government agencies in European Union.

Policy theme(s)

Waste >> Waste management >> Landfill
Waste >> Waste management >> Recycling

Keywords

Solid waste management, Systems analysis, Integrated solid waste management, Sustainability

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

View this study at:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479710004275
There is a fee to view this study in full

Contact the study author at:

alp11931@fct.unl.pt