Drift in policy implementation: Incentives thwarted in a recycling programme.

Area of Science:

• Environmental policy
• Urban planning
• Waste management

Background:

• An incentives-based residential recycling program was implemented in Shanghai to improve waste sorting.
• The program demonstrated limited success in its performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically analyze the implementation process of the recycling program to identify reasons for its limited success.
• To understand how policy intentions and incentive mechanisms were affected during devolution.

Main Methods:

• Key informant interviews were conducted.
• Site observations were performed.
• The study systematically analyzed each step of policy implementation and devolution.

Main Results:

• Policy intentions were maintained during devolution from Municipality to District and Street levels.
• Incentive concepts were nullified at the community governance level.
• Local implementers prioritized formal key performance indicators (KPIs) for inspection purposes.
• KPIs, designed for ease of measurement, unintentionally caused divergence from the policy's incentive goals.
• High KPI scores masked the program's implementation failure.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights how conscientious implementation of formal metrics (KPIs) can derail policy intentions.
• Effective derailing of policy through well-intentioned but misaligned implementation is a critical lesson for future programs.
• Recommendations for avoiding similar failures in waste management and other policy areas are implied.