Disparity in European taxation of combustible waste

摘要

Typically, the economic cost of waste management options is the main driver to determine treatment options for waste producers. On the other hand, society also cares about other aspects such as environmental impacts. Therefore, policy makers should intervene to stimulate sustainable waste management practices. In order to give waste producers financial incentives that reflect the environmental costs of waste management options, environmental taxes are key policy instruments. In other words, by implementing the 'polluter pays' principle, environmental taxes stimulate sustainable waste management. However, analysis of environmental taxes for the treatment of combustible waste shows that policies in Europe are both disparate and weak in environmental incentives.