This paper estimates the impact of the introduction of a tax on unsorted waste increasing the 35-l bag price from 0.24 to 1.95 CHF in 2013 in the canton of Vaud. Using panel data for 22 districts over the period 2010–2017, we identify the effects over time of the waste tax on unsorted waste and recycling. The neighbouring cantons of Geneva and Valais form our control group. The waste tax decreases the amount of yearly unsorted household-waste by about 47 kg, corresponding to a reduction of about one fourth per inhabitant. The effect is strongest the year after the introduction of the tax and is persistent over time. We further find a robust increase in organic waste recycling. For recycling of paper and glass, the effect is not clear-cut. Interestingly, in terms of weight, the reduction in unsorted waste is not fully compensated by increased recycling. Given that there are no signs for illegal waste disposal, this means that consumers probably reduced their total packaging bought.

本文估计了 2013 年沃州对未分类垃圾征税的影响，将 35 升袋子的价格从 0.24 瑞士法郎提高到 1.95 瑞士法郎。使用 22 个地区在 2010 年至 2017 年期间的面板数据，我们确定了废物税对未分类废物和回收利用的影响。邻近的日内瓦州和瓦莱州构成了我们的控制组。废物税使每年未分类的家庭废物量减少约 47 公斤，相当于每名居民减少约四分之一。这种影响在引入税收后的一年中最为明显，并且会随着时间的推移而持续存在。我们进一步发现有机废物回收的强劲增长。对于纸张和玻璃的回收利用，效果并不明确。有趣的是，在重量方面，未分类废物的减少并没有通过增加回收来完全补偿。鉴于没有非法废物处理的迹象，这意味着消费者可能减少了购买的总包装。