Principles and Policies for Recycling Decisions and Risk Management
Swedish recycling businesses argue that the Non-Toxic Environmental target gets too much weight and that resource efficiency gets too little focus, which results in decreased recycling. The purpose of this paper is to highlight different factors that recycling of waste decisions should consider, as...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Recycling |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/5/3/21 |
| _version_ | 1797554010380566528 |
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| author | Jonatan Gehandler Ulrika Millgård |
| author_facet | Jonatan Gehandler Ulrika Millgård |
| author_sort | Jonatan Gehandler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Swedish recycling businesses argue that the Non-Toxic Environmental target gets too much weight and that resource efficiency gets too little focus, which results in decreased recycling. The purpose of this paper is to highlight different factors that recycling of waste decisions should consider, as well as contributing to a constructive discussion of the overall principles and policies for recycling. How recycling works in practice is explored based on nine interviews with stakeholders from the governmental agency level to recycling businesses. Theory with regards to ethics, risk, decision-making, governmental policy and laws is summarised. Finally, the discrepancy and connection between practice and theory is analysed. If recycling of waste is seen as a decision problem, the choice is between to recycle (in different ways) or not to recycle (i.e., energy recovery and/or landfill). Based on risk and decision theory, all relevant goals should be considered. This requires a broader problem framing when goals are in conflict. All parties agree that recycled and virgin material should be treated equally. From a higher policy perspective, it should then be demonstrated that any use of material (recycled and/or virgin) minimize environmental impact and promotes long-term sustainability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:25:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad3db0f6a7ee4f1f8c7310e631e82531 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2313-4321 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:25:42Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Recycling |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad3db0f6a7ee4f1f8c7310e631e825312023-11-20T13:19:36ZengMDPI AGRecycling2313-43212020-09-015321010.3390/recycling5030021Principles and Policies for Recycling Decisions and Risk ManagementJonatan Gehandler0Ulrika Millgård1RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Box 857, 501 15 Borås, SwedenRISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Box 857, 501 15 Borås, SwedenSwedish recycling businesses argue that the Non-Toxic Environmental target gets too much weight and that resource efficiency gets too little focus, which results in decreased recycling. The purpose of this paper is to highlight different factors that recycling of waste decisions should consider, as well as contributing to a constructive discussion of the overall principles and policies for recycling. How recycling works in practice is explored based on nine interviews with stakeholders from the governmental agency level to recycling businesses. Theory with regards to ethics, risk, decision-making, governmental policy and laws is summarised. Finally, the discrepancy and connection between practice and theory is analysed. If recycling of waste is seen as a decision problem, the choice is between to recycle (in different ways) or not to recycle (i.e., energy recovery and/or landfill). Based on risk and decision theory, all relevant goals should be considered. This requires a broader problem framing when goals are in conflict. All parties agree that recycled and virgin material should be treated equally. From a higher policy perspective, it should then be demonstrated that any use of material (recycled and/or virgin) minimize environmental impact and promotes long-term sustainability.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/5/3/21recyclingcircular economydecision-makingrisk managementconflicting goalsethics |
| spellingShingle | Jonatan Gehandler Ulrika Millgård Principles and Policies for Recycling Decisions and Risk Management Recycling recycling circular economy decision-making risk management conflicting goals ethics |
| title | Principles and Policies for Recycling Decisions and Risk Management |
| title_full | Principles and Policies for Recycling Decisions and Risk Management |
| title_fullStr | Principles and Policies for Recycling Decisions and Risk Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Principles and Policies for Recycling Decisions and Risk Management |
| title_short | Principles and Policies for Recycling Decisions and Risk Management |
| title_sort | principles and policies for recycling decisions and risk management |
| topic | recycling circular economy decision-making risk management conflicting goals ethics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/5/3/21 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jonatangehandler principlesandpoliciesforrecyclingdecisionsandriskmanagement AT ulrikamillgard principlesandpoliciesforrecyclingdecisionsandriskmanagement |