联合国环境规划署 1-联合国环境规划署.docVIP

联合国环境规划署 1-联合国环境规划署 CHAPTER 2: USE OF ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS IN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT As indicated in the introduction, when it comes to designing environmental policy, it is not simply a question of choosing either economic instruments (EIs) or command and control strategies (CACs) but adopting harmonious balance of both. This chapter takes the discussion further by systematically building the rationale for EIs and indicating the extent by which they have been applied in solid waste management. 2.1 Benefits of economic instruments Generally, economic instruments introduce more flexibility, efficiency and cost-effectiveness into solid waste management measures. Furthermore, they can stimulate development of pollution control technology and expertise in the private sector; provide government with a source of revenue to support waste management programmes; and eliminate a government’s requirements for larger amounts of detailed information needed to determine the feasible and appropriate level of control for each plant or product. Specifically, in solid waste management, EIs can be used as a tool to: ● reduce the amount of waste generated ● reduce the proportion of hazardous waste in the waste generated ● segregate hazardous waste for special handling and disposal ● encourage recovery, reuse and recycling of wastes ● support cost-effective solid waste collection, transport, treatment and disposal systems ● minimize adverse environmental impacts related to solid waste collection, transport, treatment and disposal systems, and ● generate revenues to cover costs. (IDB, 2003) Command-and-control strategy involves direct regulation along with monitoring and enforcement systems. It generally requires the government to formulate the waste standards, to specify schedules for meeting the standards, permitting and enforcement procedures for facilities, liability assignment, and penalties for non-compliance. The major advantage of command-and-control approach is t