The brown side of the green economy: urban garbage and the zero-waste utopia

Journal title ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Author/s Antonio Massarutto
Publishing Year 2012 Issue 2012/3
Language Italian Pages 30 P. 81-110 File size 1058 KB
DOI 10.3280/EFE2012-003007
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This article illustrates the result of a study based on the life-cycle costing technique applied to urban waste management in a typical Italian setting, in order to discuss the economic and ecological foundations of a management paradigm inspired by the "zero-waste" philosophy. We identify landfill availability as a critical natural capital requiring the adoption of strong sustainability indicators. We argue that the zero-waste approach is neither feasible nor desirable. Instead, strong arguments can be found in favour of a "zero-landfill" strategy, to be achieved through an adequate mix of material and energy recovery.

Keywords: Waste management, Sustainability, Natural critical capital, Life-cycle, Costs externality

Jel codes: Q53, Q57, H23

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Antonio Massarutto, The brown side of the green economy: urban garbage and the zero-waste utopia in "ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT" 3/2012, pp 81-110, DOI: 10.3280/EFE2012-003007