MUNICIPAL WASTE GENERATION AND THE EKC HYPOTHESIS

This paper provides original empirical evidence on the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis regarding municipal waste generation. A disaggregated panel dataset based on Italian Provinces is exploited. The empirical analysis shows first but mixed evidence in favour of an EKC relationship. The turning point occurs at very high levels of value added per capita (in a range between 24400-25300€), which characterise a very limited number of wealthy (Northern) Italian provinces. The test on some recently adopted waste policy / management instruments, shows that they are not (yet) impacting waste generation at source, and that they present some endogeneity with respect to socio economic drivers. To achieve delinking and to avoid an increasing gap between Northern and Southern areas, more effective market based policy instruments should be implemented and the weight of waste policies should be rebalanced towards waste prevention targets and instruments, in line with the priorities stated by the EU and Member Countries