Pollution Prevention by the Voluntary 33/50 Program: Implications for Toxic Releases and Recycling

Abstract:     
Previous studies have focused on examining the motivations for voluntary program participation and evaluating the effectiveness of the 33/50 program in reducing 33/50 releases. In this paper, we examine the mechanisms through which the 33/50 program had achieved the reduction by analyzing relationships between direct releases, adoption of pollution prevention (P2) technology and recycling chosen by facilities. We examine the extent to which program participation led 33/50 facilities to use recycling methods, and the extent to which P2 adoption led to reduction in 33/50 releases and recycling. Specifically, we evaluate three types of emissions: on-site recycling, off-site recycling and direct releases of 33/50 chemicals controlling for endogenous program participation and P2 adoption. We find that program participants had significantly reduced 33/50 releases and did not increase recycling compared to non-participants. However, the reduction in 33/50 releases was achieved through other abatement methods instead of P2. The adoption of P2 technology did not reduce 33/50 releases and recycling except for ozone depleting chemicals.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 34

Keywords: 33/50 program, toxics release inventory, pollution prevention, self-selection, on-site recycling, off-site recycling

JEL Classification: Q55, C21, L51

working papers series