Shinichiro Nakamura*

* School of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University

+ Correspondence should be addressed to Shinichiro Nakamura
(1-6-1, Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8050 Japan)

Abstract

Any production activity including recycling of waste materials and consumption emits waste, which is treated by waste management sectors (recycling and disposal) . Goods producing and waste management sectors are mutually interdependent through the flow of goods and waste. Looking at this interdependence is important to resolve the question of whether recycling of waste results in an overall increase or an overall decrease in environmental emissions. A Waste Input-Output (WIO) model is presented, which describes this interdependence in a quantitative manner. The model evaluates environmental emissions associated with a given matrix of technical input-emission coefficients representing the technology and institutions, and a given vector of final demand representing the lifestyle. This paper reports results of the estimation and application of the WIO model for Japan that consists of data from 60 industry sectors, 24 waste types, four waste disposal methods (shredding, incineration, melting, and landfill), and two types of environmental emissions (carbon dioxide and landfill volume) . The model was used to evaluate economic and environmental effects of alternative recycling and waste disposal options, which include power generation from waste heat, and the use of waste plastics as materials for steel production.

Key words: input-output analysis, power generation from waste heat, regional disposal, injection of waste plastics into blast furnace, LCA