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Open Environmental Sciences, 2013, 7, 21-31 21 Open Access A Study of Due Recyclable Containers in Wei-Lung Huang*

China University of Science and Technology, No. 245, Sec.3 Academia Rd., Nangang Dist., City 11581, Taiwan, R.O. China

Abstract: This study surveys the operation modes, results and problems of the waste container system in Taiwan, known as the Four-in-One Program, and compares the collation and time trend analysis of the program’s results (such as the garbage clearance volume, the recycling rate of recyclable resources, the price of plastic “Due Recyclable Waste Containers” (DRWCs), among other variables). The results show that the Four-in-One Program in Taiwan could prevent waste generation and increase recycling weight and that the program’s key contributing factors are the collective environmental consciousness, subsidies, and the resources recycle fee (RRF). However, the decreasing trends of the daily per capita garbage clearance volume in Taiwan and Japan might be because the Four-in-One Program’s municipal garbage collection teams check the trash to retrieve recyclable resources. Keywords: Due recyclable waste containers, resources recycle fee (RRF), subsidy.

1. INTRODUCTION con that obligatory separation collection systems (such as the Four-in-One Program) have prevented waste generation. For Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration example, the European Environment Agency [2] and the (EPA) has classified most waste containers as “Due European Topic Centre on Resource and Recyclable Waste Containers” (DRWCs). Based on the [3] have indicated that the Packaging Directive might not Waste Disposal Act, the EPA has classified DRWCs into 6 reduce overall waste production. However, [4] used groups comprising 13 categories: iron containers, aluminum Heckman's two-step estimation and a seemingly unrelated containers, glass containers, paper containers (including regression method to estimate equations for garbage and aseptic cartons, paper cartons, and paper tableware), recyclables, and they concluded that the combined policy of pesticide containers, and plastic containers. Plastic container garbage pricing and collection of PET bottles might facilitate types are: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), garbage reduction. [5] suggested that the Four-in-One Polyvinylchloride (PVC), Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene Program’s recycling of used home appliances in Taiwan (PP), Polystyrene (PS) form, and PS non-form. should be reformed to increase its efficiency. The recycling system for DRWCs is the Four-in-One Some studies have indicated that the reason that Resource Recycling Program (Four-in-One Program), which obligatory separation collection systems have resulted in has been effectively regulated by the Recycling Fund increased recycling weight is because the process of Management Board (RFMB). Started in 1997, the Four-in- separating regular garbage from recyclable resources One Program combines its four players (community improves the collective environmental consciousness. This residents, municipal garbage collection teams, recycling study focuses on the weight of DRWCs in the Four-in-One enterprises and the RFMB) to establish effective recycling Program. For example, [4] showed that the combined policy schemes and to provide convenient recycling channels for of garbage pricing and the collection of PET bottles DRWCs. [1] showed that the Four-in-One Program, which is encourages citizens to recycle. [6] said that the Packaging a market-incentive (combined product charge and subsidy Directive required the separate collection of selected policy) system, has stimulated and established the recycling packaging and materials (such as paper, glass, metals, market for DRWCs, provided thousands of jobs, and cardboard and wood) to provide a visible waste stream for generated NT$ billions of dollars in both real production citizens. The European Union’s (EU) Packaging Directive value and real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the legislation set recycling weight percentage targets for each 1998 survey year. packaging material as follows: 60 % for glass, 60 % for This study discusses the Four-in-One Program’s paper and cardboard, 50 % for metals, 22.5% for plastics and operation mode and results in 2010, and evaluates the 15% for wood. The EU member countries set their program’s effectiveness at preventing waste generation and legislations to exceed some of the recovery and recycling increasing recycling weight. There is evidence both pro and targets initially established by the Packaging Directive. For example, Italian legislation (Decree 152/06) set the same

recycling targets for glass, paper, cardboard, and metals as *Address correspondence to this author at the China University of Science and Technology, No.245, Sec.3 Academia Rd., Nangang Dist., Taipei City 11581, Taiwan, R.O. China; Tel: 02-87320876; Fax: (02) 27864501; E-mail: [email protected]

1876-3251/13 2013 Bentham Open 22 Open Environmental Sciences, 2013, Volume 7 Wei-Lung Huang those in the Packaging Directive, but the Packaging recyclable resources to the related workers or organizations. Directive’s targets are lower for plastics and wood [7] 1. The recycling enterprises purchase recyclable resources from residents, community organizations and municipal garbage To understand the Four-in-One Program’s effect on collection teams. The RFMB handles the receipt and DRWCs, this study compares the collation and time trend analysis of the following Four-in-One Program results: the reimbursement of the resources recycle fees which are submitted by the Designated Responsible Entities (DREs, daily per capita garbage clearance volume, the weight and who are the manufacturers and importers of products and recycling rate of recyclable resources, the price, and the containers), the establishment of the resource recycling funds recycling and sales weights of plastic DRWCs. [8] used a and convenient recycling channels, the administration of the time trend analysis of the United Kingdom’s MSW recycling industry, the verification of resource recycling compositions to show that there is a potential adverse effect on the efficiency of solid waste recycling operations. [9] activities, and the subsidizing and incentive mechanism of the recycling enterprises, local governments and the groups presented the results of a historical trend analysis modeling which promote resource recycling activities2. possible future developments in materials and energy consumption until 2010, and the results indicated that To effectively operate the Four-in-One Program’s improving recycling policy saves less energy than do resource recycling activities, the RFMB consists of the policies aimed at reducing paper consumption and improving Review Committee (FRC), the Auditing and Certification process technology. Supervisory Committee (ACSC) and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and invites government agencies, trade Based on the above Introduction, this paper is organized and industry associations, academia, technical experts, civil as follows: Section 2 discusses the operation mode of the organizations, etc., to be members of the above committees. Four-in-One Program, Section 3 discusses the results of the The FRC reviews the RRF rates, the ACSC supervises the Four-in-One Program, and Section 4 offers conclusions. operations and results of verification organizations, and the 2. THE OPERATION MODE OF FOUR-IN-ONE TAC negotiates and promotes clean-up, disposal and PROGRAM recycling activities3. We use a material-monetary flow diagram (see Fig. 1) to 3. THE RESULTS OF FOUR-IN-ONE PROGRAM illustrate how the RFMB drives the Four-in-One Program Due to the activities of the Four-in-One Program, both (by means of the resources recycle fee (RRF), subsidies, the weight of recyclable resources and the recycling rate auditing, certification, etc.) and its flow of money and materials (recyclable materials and waste) from one player to increased during the period from 2000/7 ~ 2010/3. For example, the verified total weight of annual recyclable another. resources collected by municipal garbage collection teams Taiwan’s resource recycling policy has been has increased with time (the maximum was 245.33 thousand systematically implemented by the RFMB whose current tons in 2010/2 and the minimum was 40.84 thousand tons in practices for waste treatments often focus on the , 2000/8) as proven by the trend line in Fig. (2a). The resource reduction and recycling of resources. Therefore, the RFMB recycling rate of municipal garbage collection teams has also has established the Four-in-One Program as a beneficial increased with time (the maximum was 37.33% in 2009/7 mechanism for resource recycling in Taiwan. The program’s and the minimum was 5.99% in 2000/7) as proven by the goals are to sort garbage into separate collections of trend line in Fig. (2b). Thus, the daily per capita garbage recyclable resources and waste and to create a completely clearance volume has decreased with time (the maximum closed-loop recycling society. was 1.06 kilogram (kg) in 2001/12 and the minimum was As shown in Fig. (1), there are four players in the Four- 0.46 kg in 2009/12) as demonstrated by the trend line in Fig. in-One Program: communities, municipal garbage collection (2c). teams, recycling enterprises and the RFMB. The community The Four-in-One Program’s operation increased the organizations and residents give or sell recyclable resources recycling weights and quantities of DRWCs in the period to the recycling enterprises, municipal garbage collection from 1997 ~ 2009. Before the Four-in-One Program started, teams and community-based voluntary recycling the recycling weights and quantities of plastic DRWCs were organizations (e.g., schools, civil organizations and retail likely near zero, as there were no subsidies. However, no stores) by separating their garbage.

The municipal garbage collection teams separate and 2The chairperson of the RFMB is the minister of the EPA. The RFMB has collect both waste and recyclable resources, sell recyclable 17~23 members. These members are made of individuals from government resources to recycling enterprises and provide a agencies, trade and industry associations, academia, civil organizations, as predetermined portion (almost 30%, as determined by local well as technical experts, all of which are appointed by the minister of the EPA (see the homepage of the RFMB). government) of the revenue from selling the collected 3The chairperson of the FRC is elected among its members; the FRC has 21 members from consumer and environmental groups, academia, technical experts, government agencies, the EPA and civil organizations which are 1Packaging Directive (The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive appointed by the minister of the EPA. The chairperson of the ACSC is (Directive 94/62/EC)) is concerned with the minimization of packaging elected among its members, the ACSC has 13~15 members from consumer waste material and the promotion of energy recovery, re-use and recycling and environmental groups, academia, technical experts, local governments of packaging. The recovery and recycling targets set by the Packaging and the EPA which are appointed by the minister of the EPA. The Directive were revised in 2004 by an amending Directive (2004/12/EC). chairperson of the TAC is assigned by EPA minister, the number of TAC Their recovery target is 60% and their recycling target is 55% ~ 80%. The members depends on needs. The TAC members are made up professionals recycling targets for each packaging material (% on weight) set in Decree from various industries, academics and experts, all of which are appointed 152/06 are 26% for plastics and 35% for wood. by the minister of EPA. (see the homepage of RFMB). A Study of Due Recyclable Waste Containers in Taiwan Open Environmental Sciences, 2013, Volume 7 23

Recyclable Communities Resources －Organize community-based voluntary recycling organizations

Recycling enterprise A －Promote garbage separation in households and communities － Encourage development of Purchase dopt Material Flow private recycling industry

Waste Recyclable Feedback S － Purchase recyclable waste ubsidy and Recyclable Resources Money Flow from residents, community organizations and municipal Resources garbage collection teams Municipal garbage collection teams －

Separate and collect both regular garbage and Incentive M Purchase Waste recyclable resources Waste Disposal Recyclable Purchase －Provide a predetermined portion of the proceeds enterprise Resources from selling the collected resources to the participating organizations and involved workers echanism

Audit and Certify Adopt Subsidy and Incentive Mechanism Verification organizations RFMB Treatment Adopt Subsidy and Supervise Incentive Mechanism －Supervise the DREs in submitting the RRF and establish the resource recycling fund －Adopt subsidy and incentive mechanism in promoting the resource recycling scheme Auditing and Certification Supervisory Committee －Establish effective recycling scheme and provide convenient recycling channels - Conduct performance evaluation of the verification organizations’ operations and results RRF Review Fee Review Committee – Review RRF Submit RRF

Technology Consulting Committee DREs -Negotiate and promote waste clean-up, disposal and recycling activities (Like Manufacturers and Importers of DRWCs)

Fig. (1). The operation mode established by the four-in-one resource recycling program in Taiwan. Data source: this paper modified the homepage of RFMB. data were collected at that time, so this paper uses statistics tons). However, BMW generation in 2004 increased 3.42 that became available after the program started. For example, million tons over the amount generated in 1991 (2.20 million the recycling weights and quantities of DRWCs have tons). A Decree issued on 2 July 1981 established the Public increased over time (the maximum was 474.77 million kgs in Waste Agency of Flanders (Open bare Lames 2009 and the minimum was 19.59 million kgs in 1997) as Afvalstoffenmaatschappij, OVAM) and a series of waste shown by the trend line in Fig. (2d). Because the measuring plans. The first Waste Plan (1986 ~ 1990) initiated the unit of each DRWC is different, it is difficult to precisely separate collection of municipal waste. The second Waste determine the trends. However, it is evident that the Management Plan (Household Waste, 1991 ~ 1996) recycling weights and quantities of DRWCs have increased improved the supporting policy instruments, measures and over time. infrastructure of the separate collection. The third Implementation Plan for Household Waste (1997 ~ 2002) Most countries have examples similar to those shown in established the separate collection of packaging waste and Fig. (2a-d). That is, separate collection channels of recyclable resources (mainly paper, cardboard, packaging, backyard composting. The target of the fourth Implementation Plan for Household Waste (2003 ~ 2007) food and garden waste, etc.) have been increasingly used to was that 69.00% of household waste should be selectively divert recyclable resources from the waste stream, and collected and either recycled or composted. Finally, the therefore the annual weight of their recyclable resources has strategy of the fifth Implementation Plan for increased year by year. Environmentally Responsible Household Waste By contrast, few countries have examples similar to Fig. Management (2008 ~ 2015) is to set up integrated (2c) which shows that daily per capita garbage clearance management to close the cycle of selective collection, volume has decreased year by year, and this result processing, reprocessing and sales (see [11-14])4. contradicts the conclusion of [2] and [3]. The forecast for [15] shows that separate BMW collection in Germany in MSW generation in the member states of the Organization 2005 (15.60 million tons) approximated 4.35 times the for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates that the 2025 amount will be approximately 2.2 collection in 1990 (3.59 million tons). Moreover, per capita BMW generation in 2005 (319 kgs), decreased from 2000 times greater than it was in 1980 [10]. The reason for the levels (367 kgs). The German state of Hesse, in cooperation trend shown in Fig. (2c) could be that the increment of the with a research institution, initiated the system of separate annual weight of recyclable resources has been greater than the increment of the annual weight of waste due to such factors as economic growth. 4The amount of BMW generation (3.42 million tons) in 2004 comes from the multiple of separate BMW collection (1.30 million tons) and the share of In the Flemish Region of Belgium, separate BMW generated biodegradable waste collected separately (38%). The amount of collection in 2004 (1.30 million tons) was approximately BMW generation (2.20 million tons) in 1991 comes from the multiple of 5.81 times greater than the collection in 1991 (0.22 million separate BMW collection (0.22 million tons) and the share of generated biodegradable waste collected separately (10%). 24 Open Environmental Sciences, 2013, Volume 7 Wei-Lung Huang

300,000 45 y = 62.427x ‐ 2E+06 40 y = 0.0095x ‐ 345.42 250,000 R² = 0.9801 35 R² = 0.9771 200,000 30 25 150,000 20 100,000 15 10 50,000 5 0 0 J‐00 J‐01 J‐02 J‐03 J‐04 J‐05 J‐06 J‐07 J‐08 J‐09 J‐00 J‐01 J‐02 J‐03 J‐04 J‐05 J‐06 J‐07 J‐08 J‐09

(a) The verified total weight of (b) The resource recycling rate of recyclable resources which were municipal garbage collection teams collected by municipal garbage (2000/7~2010/3), the unit of X-axis collection teams (2000/7~2010/3), is monthly data, and the unit of

the unit of X-axis is monthly data, Y-axis is %. as January of 2000 is abbreviated as J-00, and the unit of Y-axis is ton.

1.20 600,000,000

y = 3E+07x + 7E+07 500,000,000 1.00 R² = 0.9333

0.80 400,000,000 y = ‐0.0001x + 5.8264 R² = 0.913 0.60 300,000,000 0.40 200,000,000

0.20 100,000,000

0.00 ‐ J‐00 J‐01 J‐02 J‐03 J‐04 J‐05 J‐06 J‐07 J‐08 J‐09 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 (c) The daily per capita garbage (d) The recycling weight of DRWCs clearance volume (2000/7~2010/3), (1997~2009), the unit of X-axis is the unit of X-axis is monthly data, annual data, and the unit of Y-axis is

and the unit of Y-axis is kg. kg.

Fig. (2). The results of four-in-one program in Taiwan. Data source: this paper modified the data of RFMB.

BMW collection and subsequent recovery of BMWs in The purpose of the Basic Act was to clarify the 1983. This system was successful, and the rest of Germany’s responsibilities of the State, local governments, business states followed this example. Later, in 1993, the Technical operators and citizens and to establish the Fundamental Plan Instructions on Municipal Waste (Technische Anleitung for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society. Following Siedlungsabfall, TASi) brought even more impetus to this the plan’s initiation, the concept of cyclical use (reuse, system’s development. recycling and heat recovery) became popular in Japanese society (see [16, 17]). In Japan, the amount of material collected for recycling increased between 2000 (7.86 million tons) and 2008 (9.78 The reasons that the trends of daily per capita garbage million tons). Meanwhile, the daily per capita generation of clearance volume in Taiwan and Japan differ from those in MSW decreased between 2000 (1.185 kg) and 2008 (1.033 the OECD might be explained by Taiwan’s and Japan’s per- kg). This coincides with the initiation of the Basic Act for bag fee for general and disposal as well as Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society (Basic Act). their municipal garbage collection teams’ practice of A Study of Due Recyclable Waste Containers in Taiwan Open Environmental Sciences, 2013, Volume 7 25 checking the trash to retrieve recyclable resources. On the Recycled DRW PET, PS non-form and PP/PE containers other hand, in some OECD countries, family waste disposal fall into ranges similar to those of raw materials. The fees are set according to the volume in each labeled waste correlation coefficients of the recycled revenue ( P ) and the bin, providing no incentive to reduce waste, and the s,t municipal garbage collection teams do not check the trash in raw material price ( Pr,t ) were the same period ( ! (Ps,t , Pr,t ) ) most countries of the OECD. for DRW PET, PS non-form containers. The PP/PE The reasons why the trends of daily per capita garbage containers increased by 0.30 in the period from 2005/6 clearance volume in Taiwan and Japan are different with ~2009/12 (see Fig. 4a, c, e). On the other hand, due to the OECD might be the per-bag fee collection of general waste low price of raw materials, either the quality of some clearance and disposal, and the municipal garbage collection recycling materials was too low (as with DRW PVC teams would check the trash and collect recyclable resources containers) or the subsidies were too high (as with DRW in Taiwan and Japan. But family waste disposal fees are PVC and PS form containers) to allow for improvement of according to volume (waste bins and waste labeling) in some recycling revenue. The ! (Ps,t , Pr,t ) of DRW PVC and PS countries of OECD, which would have no incentive to form containers were less than 0.30 in the period from reduce waste, and the municipal garbage collection teams 2005/6 ~2009/12. would not check the trash in most countries of OECD. From the above discussion, it can be seen that the Four- Using the example of plastic DRWCs, this study proves in-One Program could prevent waste generation and increase that the recycling channels of DRWCs should become more the recycling weight of DRWCs. The program’s driving established over time if current Four-in-One Program trends factors are the raising of the collective environmental continue, as seen in Fig. (3), Appendix Fig. (1) and consciousness, the adoption of subsidies and incentive Appendix Fig. (2). The correlation coefficients of recycling mechanisms to promote the resource recycling scheme, and weight ( rt ) and sales weight ( st or st!1 ) are in the same the efforts of municipal garbage collection teams. When the period or lag in period ( ! (r , s ) and ! (r , s ) ). The subsidies and incentive mechanisms are factored in, t t t t"1 however, the recycling revenue has always been less than the increasing recycling weights and rates of Plastic DRWCs total cost of the Four-in-One Program in Taiwan. [18] may indicate the increasing completeness of recycling compared the effectiveness of alternative policy options for channels for Plastic DRWCs in Taiwan. 14 countries throughout Europe, Asia, North America, South As shown in Fig. (3a, b, e), the ! (r , s ) and ! (r , s ) of America and Oceana, and found that the national programs t t t t"1 with the highest recycling rates typically target both supply DRW PET, PVC and PP/PE containers were more than 0.30 and demand through financial incentives (use-based waste in the period from 2003/1 ~ 2010/2. Although Fig. (3c, d) management fees, deposit-refund programs, disposal taxes, show that the ! (rt , st ) and ! (rt , st"1 ) of DRW PS non-form etc.) that encourage source separation and recycling. and PS form containers were less than 0.30 in the period 4. CONCLUSION from 2003/1 ~ 2010/2, they increased in the period from 2006/1 ~ 2010/2, with 0.62 and 0.61 for DRW PS form This study surveyed the mechanism and effects of containers and 0.24 and 0.31 for DRW PS non-form Taiwan’s the waste container recycling system known as the containers respectively5. Four-in-One Program and compared the time trends of the daily per capita garbage clearance volume, the weight and The additions of the price of the recycled materials (the recycling rate of recyclable resources, the price, and the recycling revenue) and their subsidies for Plastic DRWCs recycling and sales weights of plastic DRWCs. are near market-equilibrium magnitudes as shown by the nearly horizontal trend lines in Fig. (4a-e). This indicates The study found that there are four players in the Four- that the Four-in-One Program’s intended outcome of in-One Program including communities, municipal garbage improved stability of the recycling channels has been collection teams, recycling enterprises and the RFMB. The achieved because recycling revenue should equal the program’s operating mechanism is that the municipal difference between its cost and its normal profit in a garbage collection teams collect and sell recyclable resources perfectly competitive market6. and then apportion a predetermined percentage of the resulting recycling revenue amongst the related workers and organizations. 5The monthly recycling weights of DRW PET, PS non-form and PP/PE The results showed that the Four-in-One Program in containers increased with time (the maximums were 10,493,773 kgs in Taiwan could prevent waste generation and raise recycling 2009/7, 646,065 kgs in 2008/8 and 7,837,981 kgs in 2009/9; the minimums weight (collective environmental consciousness) and that were 1,708,894 kgs in 1998/3, 2,466 kgs in 1999/2 and 186,938 kgs in 1998/1). This is proven by the trend line in Appendix Fig. (1a, c, e). The this phenomenon is similar to that in most countries with monthly recycling weights of DRW PVC and PS form containers decreased recycling programs. Its key factors are the improving with time (the maximums were 1,279,817 kgs in 1998/4 and 342,761 kgs in collective environmental consciousness, the provision of 2002/4; the minimums were 496 kgs in 1998/11 and 10,401 kgs in 2004/8). subsidies, and the RRF. However, the trends of daily per This is proven by the trend line in Appendix Fig. (1b, d). The recycling capita garbage clearance volume in Taiwan and Japan are rates of PVC, PS non-form and PP/PE increased with time and the recycling rates of PET and PS form were over 100% (see Appendix Fig. 2). Thus, the Four-in-One Program has improved the recycling results of DRW plastic containers. One is that the price of recycled material is near the price of raw material. 6Interestingly, the recycled revenues are sometimes greater than the price of The other is that subsidies are larger than the difference between their prices raw material, as seen in Fig. (4a, c, d). There are two possible explanations. of recycled material and raw material. 26 Open Environmental Sciences, 2013, Volume 7 Wei-Lung Huang

700,000 12,000,000 recycling weight recycling weight sales weight 600,000 10,000,000 sales weight 500,000 8,000,000 tt  31.0)s,r( 400,000 1tt  32.0)s,r( 6,000,000 300,000

4,000,000 200,000 tt  71.0)s,r( 2,000,000  1tt  70.0)s,r( 100,000

0 0 J‐03 J‐04 J‐05 J‐06 J‐07 J‐08 J‐09 J‐10 J‐03 J‐04 J‐05 J‐06 J‐07 J‐08 J‐09 J‐10 (a) The recycling and sales weights of (b) The recycling and sales weights of DRW PET container (2003/1 ~ DRW PVC container (2003/1 ~ 2010/2) 2010/2) 250,000 900,000 recycling weight recycling weight 800,000 sales weight sales weight  tt  19.0)s,r( 700,000 200,000 600,000  1tt  26.0)s,r( 150,000 500,000 400,000 100,000 300,000 200,000  tt  23.0)s,r( 50,000 100,000  1tt  22.0)s,r( 0 0 J-03 J-04 J-05 J-06 J-07 J-08 J-09 J-10 J-03 J-04 J-05 J-06 J-07 J-08 J-09 J-10 (c) The recycling and sales weights of (d) The recycling and sales weights of DRW PS non-form container DRW PS form container (2003/1 ~ (2003/1 ~ 2010/2) 2010/2) 9,000,000 recy cling weight 8,000,000 sales weight Note: The unit of X-axis is monthly 7,000,000 6,000,000 data, and the unit of Y-axis is kg. 5,000,000 4,000,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 tt  54.0)s,r(

1,000,000  1tt  51.0)s,r( 0

J-03 J-04 J-05 J-06 J-07 J-08 J-09 J-10 (e) The recycling and sales weights of DRW PP/PE container (2003/1 ~ 2010/2)

Fig. (3). The recycling and sales weights and their correlation coefficient of Plastic DRWCs in Taiwan. Data source: this paper modified the data of RFMB. distinguishable from those in most countries, perhaps due to there are increasing execution costs, supervision costs, social the per-bag collection fee for general waste clearance and costs and risks of interruption of the recycling channels. [19] disposal and to the fact that the municipal garbage collection reviewed the recycling performance of the United States by teams check the trash to retrieve recyclable resources in looking at the inflation-adjusted cost of its recycling Taiwan and Japan. program, the rate of recycling participation and the amount of waste diverted from disposal by recycling in 1989 and Some problems still exist within the Four-in-One 1996. [19] found that the price of recycled materials was Program. For example, the price of recycled materials is much less than the total costs of the program. Additionally, A Study of Due Recyclable Waste Containers in Taiwan Open Environmental Sciences, 2013, Volume 7 27

45.00 50.00 y = -0.0002x + 36.941 the sum of subsidy and the recycled material's price 45.00 40.00 R² = 0.0004 the price of raw material 40.00 35.00 linear(its sum) 30.00 35.00 30.00 25.00 25.00 20.00 the sum of subsidy and the recycled material's price 20.00  t,rt,s   19.0)P,P( 15.00 the price of raw material 15.00 y = -0.0004x + 23.183 10.00 linear(its sum) R² = 0.0331  t,rt,s  65.0)P,P( 10.00 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 J-05 J-06 J-07 J-08 J-09 J-05 J-06 J-07 J-08 J-09

(a) The price of raw material and the (b) The price of raw material and the recycled revenue by DRW PET recycled revenue by DRW PVC

container (2005/6 ~2009/12) container (2005/6 ~2009/12)

70.00 the sum of subsidy and the recycled material's price 70.00 the sum of subsidy and the recycled material's price 60.00 the price of raw material 60.00 the price of raw material linear(its sum) linear(its sum) 50.00 50.00 40.00 40.00

30.00 30.00 y = 0.0043x - 124.76 20.00 20.00 R² = 0.3269 y = 0.0008x - 0.9956 R² = 0.0222 10.00 10.00  t,rt,s  25.0)P,P( t,rt,s  78.0)P,P( 0.00 0.00 J-05 J-06 J-07 J-08 J-09 J-05 J-06 J-07 J-08 J-09 (c) The price of raw material and the (d) The price of raw material and the recycled revenue by DRW PS recycled revenue by DRW PS form non-form container (2005/6 container (2005/6 ~2009/12)

~2009/12) 80.00 the sum of subsidy and the recycled material's price 70.00 the price of raw material Note: The unit of X-axis is monthly

60.00 linear(its sum) data, and the unit of Y-axis is New

50.00 Taiwan dollar (NTD). 40.00 30.00 20.00

  86.0)P,P( y = 0.0011x - 15.296 10.00 t,rt,s R² = 0.0159

0.00 J-05 J-06 J-07 J-08 J-09

(e) The price of raw material and the recycled revenue by DRW PP/PE container (2005/6 ~2009/12)

Fig. (4). The price of raw material and the recycled revenue by plastic DRWCs in Taiwan. Data source: this paper modified the data of RFMB. approximately 35% of the total costs of its municipal The social costs stem from the fact that DREs tend to recycling programs. increase the magnitude or targets of RRFs, while the As DREs become more numerous, the execution costs, recycling and treatment industries instead argue for the increased magnitude or targets of subsidies. [20] analyze the supervision costs and social costs are increasing with time, Four-in-One Program by conducting a cost-benefit analysis and DREs do not always consider the development of and a formal life cycle assessment (LCA). They critique the product design for recycling or reuse and recycling current program for falling short of providing incentives for technologies. [20] suggest that manufacturers should be domestic recycling infrastructure and scarcely covering directly responsible for the development of recycling technologies and the design phase of notebooks. The number operating costs, which leaves little capital to develop new recycling technologies and fails to induce widespread of DREs was increased almost 5.79 times by the consumer participation. government, from 2,775 in 1998 to 15,998 in 2009, while the number of entities in the recycling and treatment industries Prices of recycled DRW plastic containers vary greatly, also increased almost 2.46 times, from 317 in 2002 to 781 in as shown in Fig. (5). The recycling channels are at risk of 2009. interruption when recycling revenue is less than the cost of 28 Open Environmental Sciences, 2013, Volume 7 Wei-Lung Huang

35.00 6.00 μ：2.65 30.00 5.00 σ：1.20 25.00 4.00 CV：0.45 20.00 3.00 15.00 μ：22.68 2.00 10.00 σ：5.45 1.00 5.00 CV：0.24 0.00 0.00 A‐02 A‐03 A‐04 A‐05 A‐06 A‐07 A‐08 A‐09 A-02 A-03 A-04 A-05 A-06 A-07 A-08 A-09

(a) The price of recycled material by (b) The price of recycled material by DRW PET container (2002/4~2009/12) DRW PVC container 20.00 (2002/4~2009/12) 18.00 16.00 14.00 12.00 10.00 8.00 μ：3.45 6.00 μ：10.19 4.00 σ：3.55 σ：2.33 2.00 CV：0.35 CV：0.68 0.00 A-02 A-03 A-04 A-05 A-06 A-07 A-08 A-09

(c) The price of recycled material by (d) The price of recycled material by DRW PS non-form container (2002/4~ DRW PS form container

2009/12) (2002/4~2009/12) 40.00 35.00 Note: The unit of X-axis is monthly 30.00 data, and the unit of Y-axis is New 25.00 Taiwan dollar (NTD). 20.00 15.00 μ：20.02 10.00 σ：6.74 5.00 CV：0.34 0.00 A-02 A-03 A-04 A-05 A-06 A-07 A-08 A-09

(e) The price of recycled material by DRW PP/PE container (2002/4~ 2009/12) Fig. (5). The mean and standard deviation of the price (NT$) of 5 categories Plastic DRWCs’ recycled material in Taiwan. Data Source: This paper modified the data of RFMB. recycling and treatment (as shown by the trend line in Fig. 2008/5~12, and NT$9.34 dollars/kg in 2002/7~9, 4). Fig. (4) also shows that recycling revenues are sometimes respectively). well below the trend lines, increasing the risk that the Finally, the FRC, the ACSC and the TAC are recycling channels might be shut down. The coefficients of organizations that assist the RFMB in the smooth operation variation for recycled material prices for DRW PET, PVC, of the Four-in-One Program. There is not a great deal of PS non-form, PS form and PP/PE containers were 0.24, 0.45, literature discussing their effectiveness in this regard, 0.35, 0.68 and 0.34, respectively in the period from although there is still more work to be done on this issue. 2002/4~2009/12 (the maximums were NT$32.46 dollars/kg in 2008/9, NT$5.50 dollars/kg in 2005/4, NT$18.00 CONFLICT OF INTEREST dollars/kg in 2008/7~8, NT$7.00 dollars/kg in 2007/7~12, The author confirms that this article content has no conflict 2008/1~4, 2009/1~2, and NT$33.42 dollars/kg in 2008/7, of interest. respectively; the minimums were NT$12.35 dollars/kg in 2002/7~8, NT$0.50 dollars/kg in 2006/12, 2007/1~3, 5, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NT$4.13 dollars/kg in 2003/8, NT$2.00 dollars/kg in Declared none. A Study of Due Recyclable Waste Containers in Taiwan Open Environmental Sciences, 2013, Volume 7 29

APPENDIX

12,000,000 1,400,000

y = 1418.9x ‐ 5E+07 10,000,000 1,200,000 R² = 0.724 y = -47.975x + 2E+06 1,000,000 R² = 0.2229 8,000,000 800,000 6,000,000 600,000 4,000,000 400,000 2,000,000 200,000 0 0 J‐98 J‐99 J‐00 J‐01 J‐02 J‐03 J‐04 J‐05 J‐06 J‐07 J‐08 J‐09 J‐10 J-98 J-99 J-00 J-01 J-02 J-03 J-04 J-05 J-06 J-07 J-08 J-09 J-10 (a) The recycling weight of DRW PET (b) The recycling weight of DRW container (1998/1~2010/2) PVC container (1998/1~2010/2) 700,000 400,000 600,000 y = 142.15x - 5E+06 350,000 R² = 0.7835 300,000 500,000 y = -37.24x + 2E+06 R² = 0.309 250,000 400,000 200,000 300,000 150,000 200,000 100,000 100,000 50,000 0 0 -100,000F-99 F-00 F-01 F-02 F-03 F-04 F-05 F-06 F-07 F-08 F-09 F-10 J-98 J-99 J-00 J-01 J-02 J-03 J-04 J-05 J-06 J-07 J-08 J-09 J-10 (c) The recycling weight of DRW PS (d) The recycling weight of DRW PS non-form container (1998/1~2010/2) form container (1999/2~2010/2) 9,000,000 8,000,000 y = 1428x - 5E+07 R² = 0.8372 7,000,000 Note: The unit of X-axis is monthly 6,000,000 data, and the unit of Y-axis is kg. 5,000,000

4,000,000

3,000,000

2,000,000 1,000,000 0 J-98 J-99 J-00 J-01 J-02 J-03 J-04 J-05 J-06 J-07 J-08 J-09 J-10

(e) The recycling weight of DRW PP/PE non-form container (1998/1~2010/2)

Appendix Fig. (1). The recycling weight of plastic DRWCs in Taiwan. Data source: this paper modified the data of RFMB.

30 Open Environmental Sciences, 2013, Volume 7 Wei-Lung Huang

180% 350%

160% 300% 140% 250% 120% 200% 100% 80% 150% 60% 100% 40% 50% 20% 0% 0% 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

(a)The recycling rate of DRW PET (b)The recycling rate of DRW PVC container (1999~2010) container (1999~2010)

100% 200% 90% 180%

80% 160% 70% 140% 60% 120% 50% 100% 40% 80% 30% 60% 20% 40% 10% 20% 0% 0% 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 (c)The recycling rate of DRW PS (d)The recycling rate of DRW PS form non-form container (1999~2010) container (1999~2010) 160% 140% 120% Note: The unit of X-axis is annual 100% data, and the unit of Y-axis is kg. 80%

60%

40%

20%

0% 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

(c)The recycling rate of DRW PP/PE container (1999~2010)

Appendix Fig. (2). The recycling rate of plastic DRWCs in Taiwan. Data source: this paper modified the data of RFMB.

A Study of Due Recyclable Waste Containers in Taiwan Open Environmental Sciences, 2013, Volume 7 31

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Received: June 27, 2013 Revised: October 6, 2013 Accepted: October 14, 2013

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