Path and effectiveness of municipal waste classification policies: Taking pilot cities in northwest China as an example

Abstract

[Objective] In order to improve municipal waste classification policies and thus enhance the policy implementation effect, [Methods] this study used the “path-effectiveness” analysis framework to analyze the policies of the pilot cities in Northwest China. The text mining method was used to clarify the policy path of waste classification, and then the policy modeling consistency (PMC) index evaluation model was built to comprehensively evaluate the policy effectiveness. [Results] The results show that: (1) The policy elements for promoting waste classification include orientation (policy goals), resources (infrastructure, technical support, personnel support, and funding system), and guarantee (publicity and education, supervision and assessment, punishment methods, and incentive mechanisms), which ultimately form a policy path guided by policy goals, supplying supporting resources, and providing guarantees for resource use. (2) The policy ratings of the six pilot cities are good (Xining), medium (Lanzhou, Xi’an, Yinchuan, Xianyang), and poor (Urumqi), with an overall rating of medium. All variables, except infrastructure, need to be improved, and the effectiveness of incentive mechanisms has the greatest room for improvement. (3) The policies of all cities have missing content or implementation details in some variables, and the aspect and extent of missing content vary from one policy to another, so the reference routes for policy improvement are also different. [Conclusion] Finally, policy optimization recommendations were made in terms of supplementing policy content details and developing differentiated improvement routes.

Keywords

• |municipal waste classification|policy improvement|“path-effectiveness” framework|text mining method|pmc index evaluation model|northwest china|pilot cities