Scrap Prices, Waste, and Recycling Policy

This study examines the effect of waste and recycling policy on scrap prices and the importance of scrap price feedbacks as a determinant of policy costs. Price effects and direct and indirect channels of waste reduction are decomposed for deposit/refund, advance disposal fee, and recycling subsidies. Scrap price feedbacks decrease the cost of advance disposal fees, increase the cost of recycling subsidies, and have an ambiguous effect on the cost of deposit/refund. Simulation analysis finds that scrap price feedbacks substantially affect the costs of the policies and alter the ranking of instruments. (JEL Q53, Q58)