E-waste collection in Italy: Results from an exploratory analysis
Marinella Favot1, Luca Grassetti1
1University of Udine Department of Economics and Statistics (DIES), Via Tomadini 30/A, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|June 6, 2017
Summary
Effective household electrical and electronic waste (WEEE) collection in Italy depends on collection points and separate waste collection. Female population percentage positively impacts WEEE collection rates, while population density negatively affects it.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Waste Management
- Regional Economics
Background:
- Household electrical and electronic waste (WEEE) is a growing environmental concern.
- Effective collection systems are crucial for sustainable waste management and resource recovery.
- Understanding regional performance drivers is key to optimizing WEEE collection strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the performance of household WEEE collection across 20 Italian regions from 2008 to 2015.
- To identify socio-economic, demographic, and technical-organizational factors influencing WEEE collection rates.
- To determine the optimal production function for WEEE collection in Italy.
Main Methods:
- Statistical analysis of WEEE collection data from 20 Italian regions (2008-2015).
- Evaluation of independent variables including socio-economic (age, gender, income, etc.) and technical-organizational factors (population density, collection points, etc.).
- Application of the Stochastic Frontier Model to identify regional performance variations and optimal collection functions.
Main Results:
- Positive correlation found between WEEE collection rates and the presence of collection points, percentage of household waste collected separately, and the percentage of females in the population.
- Negative correlation observed between WEEE collection rates and population density.
- Significant regional disparities exist, with Southern regions showing lower collection rates compared to Central and Northern regions. Tuscany, Sardinia, and Sicily were identified as top performers.
Conclusions:
- The availability of collection points and effective separate waste collection significantly boost WEEE collection efficiency.
- Demographic factors, particularly the proportion of females, play a notable role in collection rates.
- Policy interventions should consider regional specificities and focus on enhancing infrastructure and public engagement to improve WEEE management across Italy.
