Environmental Input-Output Analysis and its Application to Regional Solid-waste Management Planning

In this paper, a commodity-by-industry input-output model is introduced to the regional solid-waste (RSW) management planning area. This model can reflect the direct and indirect effects of regional solid-waste generation and the specific relationships to the development of a regional economy. An improvement of the ordinary commodity-by-industry model is made, where a policy initiative—a "3R" program (composed of waste recycling, reuse and reduction activities)—is introduced into the model based on the consideration that these activities have important roles in the minimization of solid-waste flows. The improved approach is applied to a hypothetical problem of RSW management planning. The results indicate that useful information may be gained from the solution of the input-output model. The model therefore provides a useful tool for economic planning that considers RSW management issues.