| | Waste generation and waste management receive increasing attention among policy makers. On the one hand, waste causes environmental problems, both if it is handled properly and -- especially -- if it is mishandled, e.g. through illegal dumping. On the other hand, both waste recovery and final disposal can involve significant financial costs for public authorities, waste handlers and households. Unfortunately, under existing policy frameworks, both producers and households often lack proper incentives to reduce the amounts of waste generated, and to ensure that the waste which is generated causes few adverse environmental impacts. Some countries have adopted ambitious targets in the waste area, but the costs of achieving them through the instruments chosen are sometimes high. It is therefore important to carefully assess the costs and benefits of waste-related policies. The OECD held a workshop in October 2003, bringing together leading experts in the field, to take stock of "the state of the art" in the economics of waste area, and to identify issues on which further work in the area of solid waste management and policy should be undertaken. This publication presents papers that were prepared for that workshop.
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