2013 Volume 6 Issue 2 Pages 1-11
The deposit-refund system is often suggested as a means for ensuring appropriate collection of used products, which is said to have potential to decrease the environmental burden. However, examining the introduction of deposit-refund systems on the basis of surveys regarding the return of used products is neither adequate nor in accordance with economic theory, For example, in the case of recyclable takeout lunch containers used by many Japanese university cooperatives, economic examination of deposit-refund systems is found to be insufficient. By considering the responses to questionnaires given to users of these products, this study indicates methods and directions for economic examination of the introduction of deposit-refund systems.
