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ecycling targets is partly linked to the fact that the complex state structure <strong>of</strong><br />

Belgium, where taxes are Federal competence, and recycling and waste policy are<br />

exclusively Regional competences.<br />

30.8.3 Differential Tariffs (DIFTAR)<br />

DIFTAR (see Sections 8.0 through 10.0) is a method to stimulate especially private<br />

persons to sort their household waste into different fractions. This does enhance<br />

performance <strong>of</strong> separate collection schemes. There is, however, no link with ecotax,<br />

because ecotax exemptions for better collected waste streams are applied on<br />

batteries and pr<strong>of</strong>essional packaging <strong>of</strong> certain liquids. Both streams are not covered<br />

by the usual DIFTAR regimes. Batteries belong to the hazardous household waste<br />

scheme for which a separate sorting obligation exists independent <strong>of</strong> different<br />

tariffication, and the pr<strong>of</strong>essional packaging does not belong to the household waste<br />

fraction.<br />

30.8.4 Information Campaigns and Public Awareness<br />

The implementation <strong>of</strong> ecotaxes needs to be coupled to an extensive information<br />

campaign. Awareness raising and education are very important factors to create<br />

support for the policy.<br />

30.9 Effect <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Policy</strong> on Pricing <strong>of</strong> Resources / Services<br />

The aim <strong>of</strong> eco-taxes is to improve the efficiency <strong>of</strong> operation <strong>of</strong> markets by<br />

internalising externalities associated with products. However, few taxes are set by<br />

direct reference to the externalities <strong>of</strong> the products themselves. The rates are set<br />

based on the desired regulatory effect <strong>of</strong> discouraging undesired products or waste.<br />

The level is based upon the desire to intervene in the market, but again referring to<br />

the awkward development <strong>of</strong> the legislation, political horse-trading could not have<br />

been completely excluded. In addition, the ecotax is not applied where certain targets<br />

are met, so that the aim might be taken to have been delivery <strong>of</strong> the outcomes which<br />

an ecotax might have achieved had it been implemented.<br />

30.10 Evasion and Enforcement<br />

The production sector can put a spoke in the ecotax / eco-premium wheel, as<br />

demonstrated by an example taken from Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola introduced a price<br />

increase for re-usable bottles, whereby the relative price differential between, on the<br />

one hand, re-usable bottles, and on the other, single use PET-bottles and cans was<br />

erased.<br />

An increase in cross-border purchases may possibly be occurring, but no statistics are<br />

available to confirm or reject this.<br />

30.11 Lessons Learned<br />

A sufficiently large levy or, in other words, an adequate price differential between<br />

regular products and their eco-friendly variants is crucial. However, the optimal price<br />

differentiation between eco-friendly products and less eco-friendly products still<br />

needs to be determined.<br />

523<br />

<strong>International</strong> <strong>Review</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Waste</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>: Annexes

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