International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

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29/09/09
Singapore’s use of prefabricated concrete slabs. 836 There are many examples
of voluntary codes of practice which encourage sustainable construction and
demolition which have not been included in this review as they are not
considered a policy. For example, the Code of Practice on Buildable Design in
Singapore and the Code for Sustainable Homes in Scotland, England and
Wales. However, it is possible that in the future these may be mandated, as
has been the trend for other initiatives or schemes which are now considered
to be policies.
48.8 Social and Distributional Consequences
Social and distributional consequences would only be expected where:
� either, the policy differentiated between companies; or
� the costs introduced by the policy had a significant impact on the price of
construction projects targeted by the policy.
In reality, the policies seem either to impose minimal costs (companies may even
reduce waste management costs, depending upon the other policies in place).
In cases where refunded compliance bonds are in place, the bond is typically related
to the size of the project. The bond itself can be refunded on achievement of the
required target. In principle, those with more pressing cash-flow problems would find
it more difficult to put up the compliance bond in advance.
Clearly, a beneficiary should be the reprocessing sector, in particular, accredited
facilities.
48.9 Complementary Policies
Unlike the minimum recycling standards for household and C&I waste materials, the
recycling standards of waste streams in C&D are not underpinned by financial
support policies such as producer responsibility and pay-by-use. However, examples
of refunded compliance bonds have been seen in the USA which provide a financial
incentive to reach the set recycling targets. Also, in Austria there is a reduction in
waste management fees for separately collected demolition waste. 837
An alternative policy to mandatory recycling is to mandate the use of recycled
products, thereby forcing recycling rates up to ensure the recycled material is
available. Due to the close association between the two policy mechanisms it is
possible that both could be simultaneously implemented in one policy. It has been
common in the past for such guidelines to be included in green public procurement
836 AEA Technology (2007) International Approaches to Waste Prevention and Minimisation, Final
Report for Defra (BREW), Accessed 15 th October 2008,
http://www.crwplatform.co.uk/conwaste/assets/Publications/2006-7-Reports/International-
Approaches-to-Waste-Prevention-and-Minimisation.pdf
837 European Topic Centre on Resource and Waste Management [Online],
http://waste.eionet.europa.eu/facts/factsheets_waste/Instruments [Accessed 8th September 2008].