Target setting and performance analysis: Promoting e-waste collection in China under the collection target...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Waste Management
• Policy Analysis

Background:

• Electronic waste (e-waste) collection rates in China remain low despite two decades of efforts.
• The Chinese government introduced the collection target responsibility (CTR) policy to address this challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine optimal collection targets and evaluate performance under the CTR policy from a responsibility-sharing perspective.
• To provide theoretical support for effective CTR implementation and decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Developed three CTR models: independent collection, government cost-sharing, and enterprise collaboration.
• Utilized dynamic differential game analysis to establish collection target equations and derive performance metrics.
• Conducted practical case simulations to analyze performance evolution and determine reasonable collection targets.

Main Results:

• Optimized collection targets were determined as 23.8% (independent), 32.3% (government cost-sharing), and 34.4% (enterprise collaboration).
• The CTR policy effectively enhances e-waste collection targets and overall performance.
• Shared responsibility models (government cost-sharing and enterprise collaboration) achieved the highest collection performance.

Conclusions:

• The CTR policy is a viable strategy for improving e-waste collection efficiency in China.
• Collaborative approaches involving government and enterprises are crucial for maximizing collection performance.
• Findings offer practical guidance for setting realistic collection targets and implementing targeted CTR measures.