Waste Management and the Circular Economy in Selected OECD Countries
Evidence from Environmental Performance Reviews
This report provides a cross-country review of waste, materials management and circular economy policies in selected OECD countries, drawing on OECD’s Environmental Performance Reviews during the period 2010-17. It presents the main achievements in the countries reviewed, along with common trends and policy challenges, and provides insights into the effectiveness and efficiency of waste, materials management and circular economy policy frameworks. As the selected reviews were published over a seven-year period, information for some countries may be more recent than for others. Nevertheless, the policy recommendations emerging from the reviews may provide useful lessons for other OECD countries and partner economies.
Investment and financing mechanisms for waste management
The Environmental Performance Reviews have shown that government support through grants, loans, tax exemptions and other mechanisms are a key part of the overall policy mix for waste management. Moreover, governments are seeking effective financial mechanisms to support the move to a circular economy. Private and public waste operators as well as private companies also provide a key component of waste management financing. In the circular economy, investments by businesses will be a key factor. This chapter examines trends in waste management investments as well as investment and financing mechanisms for waste management in the 11 focus countries to identify good practices.