Municipal Solid Waste Management services and its funding in Spain
Introduction
Sustainability is a three-tier concept, “social, economic and environmental”, related to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Bruntland Report, UNWCE, 1987, Machado e Silva et al., 2014, Cardoen et al., 2015).
Unwanted impact from waste generation aims to be compensated for by the Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) (UN, 1992, EU, 2008, OECD, 2007, OECD, 2013) by means of a charge-tax-fee this charge well might be variable on the weight or volume of waste (Brown and Johnstone, 2014). PPP requires that “the costs of disposing of waste must be borne by the holder of waste, by previous holders or by the producers of the product from which the waste came” (EU, 2008).
Dahlen and Lagerkvist (2010) suggest the existence of a gap in the relevant literature, disclosing empirical evidence of waste collecting charges applied in Europe. This paper contributes to filling the gap, delivering the findings on the existing funding system in use in the Spanish Provincial Capitals and some additional evidence on waste related variables in the Capital city of Madrid.
Echoing Bilitewski (2008), Muñoz et al. (2011) and Spanish Law on waste and polluted soil (2011), it is to be acknowledged that a more than merely adequate costing system is necessary for the optimal implementation of a charging system. Determining the funding of local public services with the lack of a reliable measure of the cost does not inject transparency into the system. Therefore, the possibility of establishing a variable waste charge must be accompanied by the operation of a proper waste management accounting system that provides transparency in the complex world of MSW management and its related costing. Bilitewski (2008) acknowledges the fact that overall, across Germany, 70% of the costs of MSW disposal services are fixed – and so are not dependent on the waste generated by citizens or dwellers.
The objectives of this research are to introduce the European and OECD framework on waste charges and then to disclose what is happening with waste charges in Spain, later to reveal if Madrid waste charges are in any way dependent on the waste generated, to do so will require proof of the existence of a statistical relationship between the value of properties and waste generation and finally to confirm the dependence of waste generation on the number of properties (Household waste generator). In accordance with the objectives later some hypothesis will be formulated.
The paper is structured into five main sections. The first section introduces the research issue; the second places it in better focus and context with some key relevant literature that enables the theoretical approach. The third section is devoted to matters relating to the empirical methods-methodology, while the fourth presents findings-results with discussion of the main findings and results, while being supported by an overall summary of key aspects of the paper. The last part includes conclusions and policy implications.
Section snippets
Funding-charging systems
Early literature refers to the ancient Roman Empire, to describe a so called “Cloacarium” tax that could well be the oldest referenced waste charge, raised to pay for the maintenance of slaves/criminal convicts doing this labour (Mac Chombaich De Colquhoun, 1851, Barles, 2014).
A review of literature on waste funding-charging (Hong and Adams, 1999, Gordon Mackie Associates Ltd., 2007, Bilitewski, 2008, Puig-Ventosa, 2008, Skumatz, 2008, Chamizo González, 2010, Dahlén and Lagerkvist, 2010, Brown
Empirical data, evidence, analysis and evaluation
This section of the paper is devoted to its empirical contributions in a specific Madrid context. The section first identifies the main elements of data employed in the empirical exercises – i.e. the data variables. In doing so it briefly explains from where and how these variables were obtained. Then, it explains the precise statistical tests applied to the variables and to what purposes. This was done in a Madrid context – where data acquisition and analysis were successfully carried out.
The
Findings discussion
The prevalent waste charge system in the Spanish context was the flat fee, with a minority considering variable aspects not depending on waste generation. Flat fee systems do not consider the cost of the service to individually provide, just the amount to globally levy and the criteria to individually apply to taxpayers.
For the Madrid context, Table 5 summarises the decision on relevant hypotheses motivated by Pearson's correlation coefficient and its level of signification.
As a result of the
Conclusions and policy implications
This paper is just one further step in having a better knowledge of the domain of waste management. In both exploratory and confirmatory terms, it engages with relevant MSW theory based (Polluters Pay and Hierarchy Principles) on economic and financial thinking and similar tools. In so doing, the paper has attempted to make a contribution to the management of economic resources and related unsustainability issues.
In part, the paper evaluated/explored, using appropriate data of and from the City
References (35)
- et al.
The fairness of PAYT systems: some guidelines for decision-makers
Waste Manage.
(2008) From traditional to modern fee system
Waste Manage.
(2008)- et al.
Pay As You Throw: strengths and weaknesses of weight-based billing in household waste collection systems in Sweden
Waste Manage.
(2010) - et al.
Charging for domestic waste in England: combining environmental and equity considerations
Resour. Conserv. Recycl.
(2010) Implementation of the PAYT system under the condition of financial balance in France
Waste Manage.
(2008)The landfill directive and the challenge ahead: demands and pressures on the UK householder
Resour. Conserv. Recycl.
(2001)Charging systems and PAYT experiences for waste management in Spain
Waste Manage.
(2008)Guía para la implementación de un sistema de pago por generación de residuos municipales
(2010)- et al.
Municipal household solid waste collection strategies in an African megacity: analysis of public private partnership performance in Lagos
Waste Manage. Res.
(2014) - Ayuntamiento de Madrid – Agencia Tributaria de Madrid (2006–2007–2008–2009–2011–2012–2013–2014–2015). ‘Ranking...
Banco de datos Madrid
History of waste management and the social and culture representation of waste
Better the devil you throw: experience and support for pay-as-you-throw waste charges
Environ. Sci. Policy
Agriculture biomass in India: Part 1. Estimation and characterization
Resour. Conserv. Recycl.
Aspectos económicos y medioambientales en la Gestión de residuos sólidos urbanos. Calculo de costes e indicadores. El caso del ayuntamiento de Madrid
National Indicators for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships: Handbook of Definitions
Public waste management services in France: national analysis and case studies of Paris, Rouen, and Besançon
CIRIEC Working Paper
Cited by (34)
Recycling rate performance and socioeconomic determinants: Evidence from aggregate and regional data across European Union countries
2024, Journal of Cleaner ProductionPay-as-you-throw tariff and sustainable urban waste management: An empirical analysis of relevant effects
2023, Journal of Environmental ManagementWill the Balearics and the Canary Islands meet the European Union targets for municipal waste? A comparative study from 2000 to 2035
2021, Science of the Total EnvironmentReview of municipal waste management charging methods in different countries
2020, Waste Management