Abstract
Within environmental and resource limitations, Japan is moving towards&uot;Circulating Society". Although the recycling sector treats and disposes of waste generated from the economic activities, it also encourages a burden on the environment both directly and indirectly. Therefore we need analyze a recycling system with a wide point of view including all sectors.
This study evaluates both the economic loss and effects of food waste recycling systems derived from the environmental constraints and the recycling promotion policies, with an applied general equilibrium model. This model integrates national economic activities, their pressure on the environment, and food waste recycling systems. Feeding, composting, and methane fermentation are adopted as recycling treatments from a material, chemical, and thermal recycling method respectively. Both the 6% reduction of CO2 emissions by in 2010 compared with that of in 1990 and the 50% reduction of waste final disposal by in 2010 compared with that of in 1996 are introduced as the environmental constraints. As the recycling promotion policies, the following actions are introduced, 1) subsidies to the recycling sectors, 2) raising the commission waste treatment price, and 3) charges to the use of virgin goods.
