| Popis: |
In this chapter we investigate why households generally are keen to participate in recycling schemes, and the role of different types of policy instruments in promoting and maintaining high overall recycling rates. However, we also address the issue of why some households – in spite of their current sacrifices in terms of effort and time – may be reluctant to be relieved from these responsibilities. Responsibility relief situations may become more prevalent in future environmental policy, not least as a result of technical development and institutional innovations. For instance, if technical progress permits mechanical sorting of household waste (something that is essentially a reality already today), individual efforts could be deemed ineffective and there would exist a case for the government to take over the responsibility for recycling activities. As shown in the chapter, however, this new situation may remove from the individual the possibility to provide a public good that she feels pleased to provide on her own, in spite of the fact that her voluntary efforts would be better focused on other urgent environmental activities. |
