Weight-based pricing in the collection of household waste: the Oostzaan case

• Published in: Resource and energy economics Vol. 23; no. 4; pp. 359 - 371
• Main Authors: Linderhof, Vincent, Kooreman, Peter, Allers, Maarten, Wiersma, Doede
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-10-2001; Elsevier; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Series: Resource and Energy Economics
• Subjects: Applied sciences; disposal; Economic theory; economic-analysis; Elasticity; Elasticity of demand; Exact sciences and technology; garbage; Household waste; Households; management; Pollution; Pricing policies; Short-run and long-run elasticities; solid-waste; Studies; Urban and domestic wastes; Waste disposal; Wastes; Weight; Weight-based pricing; Netherlands; Europe; Short-run and long-run elasticities; Household waste; D12; Weight-based pricing; Q20; Waste management; Urban waste; Pricing; Solid waste; Economic study; Gathering; Domestic refuse
• ISSN: 0928-7655; 1873-0221
• DOI: 10.1016/S0928-7655(01)00044-6

This paper provides an empirical analysis of the effects of weight-based pricing in the collection of household waste. Using a comprehensive panel data set on all households in a Dutch municipality we estimate short-run as well as long-run price effects for the amounts of both compostable and non-recyclable household waste. We find significant and sizeable price effects, with the elasticity for compostable waste being four times as large as the elasticity for non-recyclable waste. Long-run elasticities are about 30% larger than short-run elasticities.