Exploring a Long-Term Mechanism of Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling: A Case of Chongqing

Abstract

Based on the analysis of costs and benefits on the construction waste landfill and recycling in Chongqing, the paper focus on discussing three possible environmental and economic policies for establishing long-term mechanism of the construction and demolition waste recycling: disposal charges, recycling subsidy and government purchasing recycling product. The results show that the direct costs of waste recycling will be higher than the landfill, and increasing waste disposal fees may be incentive to reduce waste generation, but it must rely on strict law enforcement, because it increase the risk of illegal landfill; financial subsidy to recycling center is not a long-term policy, because it cannot stimulate technological innovation and cost savings; reasonable government purchasing has a immense potential for improving the application of recycling products by guiding the construction market. The government purchasing should be the most concerned measure for establishing a long-term mechanism of construction and demolition waste recycling.