Multi-method assessment of household waste management in Geneva regarding sorting and recycling

Abstract

Policymakers apply various policy instruments to meet the objective of resource conservation in the framework of waste policy. The cantonal waste policy of Geneva implements this objective by focussing on sorting of household waste for recycling. Cantonal and municipal authorities use incentive instruments and a mix of infrastructural and persuasive instruments to develop waste sorting for households. However, they have so far failed to reach the objective of a recovery rate of 50% for household waste in Geneva. This study assesses recycling and sorting practices for household waste in Geneva as basis for the formulation of a new improved strategy. This interdisciplinary assessment combines a policy evaluation of the household waste management system over the period 2002–2013 with a situation analysis of the current household waste management practices through a SWOT analysis by using triangulation as the method of data collection. The results of policy evaluation show the effectiveness of incentive instruments (e.g., incineration tax) in encouraging the Genevan municipalities to implement and improve sorting infrastructures and services. Moreover, they demonstrate that a combination of infrastructural (e.g., collection points) and persuasive (e.g., awareness raising campaigns) instruments is effective for enhancing the Genevan household waste sorting practices under certain conditions. The situation analysis identifies the significant internal and external factors that have a positive or a negative influence on household waste sorting and recycling in Geneva. The outputs of the policy evaluation and situation analysis serve to formulate a strategy that is adapted to local specificities. This strategy highlights the necessity for policymakers to avoid unnecessary duplication of the sorting system among the stakeholders and the importance of national authorities for creating framework conditions to encourage the implementation of recycling sectors.