Assessing the implementation effect of Shanghai's compulsory municipal solid waste classification policy

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Policy
• Urban Planning

Background:

• Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is a global challenge.
• China is implementing compulsory MSW classification policies, starting with Shanghai in 2019.
• Previous policies in China were voluntary, lacking enforcement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of Shanghai's compulsory MSW classification policy 18 months after implementation.
• To assess the feasibility of continuous and effective compulsory MSW classification in developing countries.
• To identify factors influencing policy success.

Main Methods:

• A three-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model was employed.
• The study period spanned from February 2019 to July 2020.
• Analysis focused on policy implementation effects and influencing variables.

Main Results:

• The average policy efficiency in Shanghai reached 0.906, indicating reasonable execution.
• Full policy effectiveness (efficiency level 1) was achieved in only 5 out of 18 months.
• Scale efficiency was identified as the primary reason for suboptimal performance in certain months.

Conclusions:

• Shanghai's compulsory MSW classification policy is largely effective but has room for improvement, particularly regarding scale efficiency.
• Public budget revenue and expenditure significantly impact policy implementation.
• The findings offer valuable insights for China's nationwide policy rollout and for other developing countries considering similar waste management strategies.