The Economics of Waste

by Porter, Richard C.

• ISBN13: 9781891853432
• ISBN10: 1891853430
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-07-01
• Publisher: ROUTLEDGE

Summary

In this concise, engaging, and provocative work, Richard Porter introduces readers to the economic tools that can be applied to problems involved in handling a diverse range of waste products from business and households. Emphasizing the impossibility of achieving a zero-risk environment, Porter focuses on the choices that apply in real world decisions about waste. Acknowledging that effective waste policy integrates knowledge from several disciplines, Porter focuses on the use of economic analysis to reveal the costs of different policies and therefore how much can be done to meet goals to protect human health and the environment. With abundant examples, he considers subjects such as landfills, incineration, and illegal disposal. He discusses the international trade in waste, the costs and benefits of recycling, and special topics such as hazardous materials, Superfund, and nuclear waste. While making clear his belief that not every form of waste presents the same amount of risk, Porter stresses the need for open-minded approaches to developing new policies. For students, policymakers, and general readers, he provides insight and accessibility to a subject that others might leave out-of-sight, out-of-mind, or buried under an impenetrable prose of statistics and jargon.

Author Biography

Richard C. Porter is professor emeritus of economics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Economics and Waste: An Introduction	1	(22)
Part 1. Solid Waste Creation, Collection, and Disposal
Business Waste	23	(16)
Household Waste Collection	39	(15)
Solid Waste Landfills	54	(17)
Incineration of Solid Waste	71	(15)
Illegal Disposal and Litter	86	(16)
Exporting and Importing Waste	102	(19)
Part 2. Recycling Solid Waste Products
Market Failure in Recycling	121	(12)
Economics of Recycling	133	(15)
Policies for Recycling	148	(16)
Logistics of Recycling	164	(13)
Markets for Recycling	177	(10)
Yard Waste and Composting	187	(12)
Part 3. Special Waste Categories
Hazardous Waste	199	(19)
Superfund	218	(21)
Radioactive Waste	239	(20)
Part 4. Final Thoughts
What Have We Learned?	259	(8)
References	267	(26)
Index	293	(8)
About the Author	301