HOUSEHOLD SOLID WASTE RECYCLING INDUCED PRODUCTION VALUES AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN TAIWAN

Transcription

1 Journal of Minerals & Materials Caracterization & Engineering, Vol. 1, No.2, pp , 2002 Printed in te USA. All rigts reserved HOUSEHOLD SOLID WASTE RECYCLING INDUCED PRODUCTION VALUES AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN TAIWAN Eser Hsu 1 and Cen-Ming Kuo 2 1 Department. of Statistics, National Taipei Univ., Taipei 104, Taiwan 2 Department. of Mecanical Eng., I-Sou Univ., Kaosiung 84008, Taiwan Abstract Houseold solid waste recycling as been a major policy of te Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration. Production values and employment opportunities from recycling are not only a major focus of Taiwan s Congress, but also te major goal of recycling policies for te EPA. In tis study, production values and employment opportunities induced by ouseold solid waste recycling were estimated from a sampling survey. Te estimated production values in 1998 were NT$26.9 (USD$0.27) billion from collection/sorting business and NT$44.6 (USD$1.27) billion from te recycling industry. Total estimated added value was approximately NT$35 (USD$1) billion, of wic NT$15.5 (USD$0.44) billion was from te collection/sorting business and $19.5 (USD$0.56) billion was from recycling. Te collection/sorting business represents about 0.28% of gross domestic product (GDP) in te service sector, and te recycling industry represents about 0.8% of GDP in manufacturing sector in Te combined employment was 189,551, of wic 182,538 was collection/sorting business (3.69% of service jobs) and 7,013 positions (0.27% manufacturing jobs) in

2 122 Eser Hsu and Cen-Ming Kuo Vol. 1, No. 2 Introduction According to te official statistical analysis [1], te total ouseold waste generated in Taiwan in 1999 was 8.88 million tons wit an average kg daily waste produced per person. In a small island wit limited land, resources, and a ig population density, suc a ig volume of waste generation as caused serious environmental problems. In recent years, spurred by te lack of landfill sites and te increasing cost of waste disposal, te reduction of te volume of waste disposal as become an important goal of public policy wile recycling of solid waste as become an increasingly urgent issue in Taiwan. Terefore, ouseold solid waste recycling as become te major policy of Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). Te 4-in-1 recycling system was implemented by Taiwan EPA on Marc 3, 1997, to integrate 4 major players, namely, te communities, te local government solid waste cleaning crews, te recycling and waste disposal industry, and te recycling foundation. Te 4 in 1 goal is to improve te efficiency of recycling. Under tis recycling system, te recycling of waste packaging containers and solid waste products is required. Te waste packaging containers are defined as iron cans, aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic containers, paper containers, aluminum foiled paper packs. Te solid waste products are defined as batteries, tires, lubricant oil, motor veicles, ome appliances (TV sets, refrigerators, air conditions, and wasing macines), and computers. In order to compensate tis ouseold recycling system, te EPA as carged associated manufacturers and importers recycling fees of around NT$4.6 (USD0.13) billion 1 in 1999 [1]. Recently, te payers of tese recycling fee and congressmen/congresswomen ave questioned te performance and effectiveness of tis recycling system and te expense of te recycling fees. How to evaluate te recycling performance and effectiveness as become te key issue for EPA. In tis study, production values and employment opportunities induced by te ouseold waste recycling were analyzed to evaluate te recycling performance and effectiveness. Te production values and employment opportunities were estimated based on a sampling survey were te ratio estimation was used to increase te precision of estimation. Survey results sow tat te estimated production values in 1998 were NT$26.9 (USD$0.27) billion from collection/sorting business and NT$44.6 (USD$1.27) billion from te recycling industry. Total estimated added value was approximately NT$35 (USD$1) billion, of wic NT$15.5 (USD$0.44) billion was from te collection/sorting business and $19.5 (USD$0.56) billion was from recycling. Te combined employment was 189,551, of wic 182,538 was collection/sorting business (3.69% of service jobs) and 7,013 positions (0.27% manufacturing jobs) in Based on te background data of employees in te recycling market, it was found tat a ig percentage of employees ave a low level of education and are of older age. Tat implies tat te recycling market in Taiwan provides potential job opportunities for older, less-educated laborers. 1 1 USD 35 NT$ as of February 2002.

3 Vol. 1, No. 2 Houseold Solid Waste Recycling Induced Production Values and Employment 123 Metodology Te aim of present study is to estimate production values and employment opportunities induced by ouseold waste recycling in Taiwan. During te survey period, year 1999, te list of mandatory recycling items includes waste packaging containers and solid waste products as already mentioned earlier and te target survey population includes all related collectors and recycling plants of ouseold solid waste in Taiwan, wic consists of 1,926 collectors and 146 recycling plants. Systematic sampling combined wit stratification was used to select a probability sample of collectors for eac recycling item, wereas, te ratio estimator was used to estimate te corresponding production values and employment opportunities. Te fundamental principle of sampling survey teory [2] states tat if sampling units can be classified into strata tat are internally selected from eac stratum, ten te variance of overall estimators may be reduced. Due to te influence of socioeconomic caracteristics and te environmental policies of local government on te waste recycling system, collectors were stratified based on counties. It is commonly believed tat te production values and employment opportunities vary considerably wit different counties, tus tere are 23 strata in all. From eac county, a systematic sample wit 455 collectors was selected, and consequently, tese selected collectors were surveyed to obtain related information of production values and employment opportunities of collecting recyclable ouseold waste [3]. In Taiwan, te number and scale of recycling plants varies considerably among te items listed for required recycling. Te variations were considered in te calculation. A small number of large recycling plants andle a larger volume of many of te required recyling items. On te oter and, certain recycling items are andled in a larger number of smaller recycling plants. Tus, te sampling wit probability proportional to size was used to select te sample. Tere were totally 81 selected recycling plants, wic were surveyed to obtain related information of teir production values and employment opportunities regarding teir waste recycling. In te surveying of bot collectors and recycling plants, face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data in order to ensure te precision of te estimates and reduce te non-response rate. In te statistical analyses, te ratio estimation was used to estimate te recycled quantities first, and ten te production values and employment opportunities induced by ouseold waste recycling were estimated via te estimated recycled quantities. Te ratio estimation was used in tis study because of te following reasons: (1) te true population size of recycling plants (collectors) is unknown, (2) te audited amount of ouseold waste recycling is known, and (3) te audited amount and recycling amount are igly correlated. Under tis situation, by using te auxiliary variable, auditing amount, te precision of te estimates could be increased. Altoug te ratio estimation is a biased estimation for large sample size, te bias could be ignored. Hedayat and Sina [4] mentioned tat increasing sample size is one of te metods to reduce te bias. In tis study, te large sample size, given te audited amount in 1998 and te positive linear correlation between te audited amount and recycled amount provided te ideal conditions to use ratio estimation. It is believed tat using te audited amount as an auxiliary variable to estimate te recycled

4 124 Eser Hsu and Cen-Ming Kuo Vol. 1, No. 2 amount will increase te precision of te estimation under tis situation. Te estimation metods are described as followings: Estimation of recycled amount Te ratio of audited amount to recycled amount is estimated first by using te sample data as given by n xi i= Rˆ 1 = n, (1) y i= 1 were x i and y i are respectively te audited amount and recycled amount of te i t collector (recycling plant) for te t item, and Rˆ is te estimated ratio of recycling item. Ten we estimate te total recycled amount based on te estimated R. Te estimate of total recycled amount Y is given by i Yˆ = X / Rˆ, (2) were X is te audited amount of population in 1998 for recycled item, and Ŷ is te estimated total recycled amount for recycled item. Estimations of production values, value-added, and employment opportunities Te estimated total recycled amount in equation (2) is used to estimate production values and employment opportunities as sown in te following equations Vˆ = Yˆ Pˆ (3) Lˆ = Yˆ Uˆ (4) Pˆ is te estimated unit price of recycled material for recycled item, and Vˆ is te were estimated production value;, and Lˆ is te estimated employment induced. Uˆ is te estimated labor input per unit recycled amount for item In principle, value-added represents gross domestic production (GDP) based on market value, wic is calculated by taking off intermediate costs from production value. In tis study, value-added for eac item is generated by multiplying production value wit corresponding value-added rate; wile te value-added rate is calculated based on National Income of Taiwan issued by te Directorate-General of Budgets, Accounting, and Statistics in 1998 [5].

5 Vol. 1, No. 2 Houseold Solid Waste Recycling Induced Production Values and Employment 125 Estimated production value and value-added of recycling market Based on a sampling survey and te ratio estimation described above, tis study sows tat te Taiwan recycling market in 1998, wic includes ouseold waste container recycling and solid waste recycling, generated about NT$26.9 (USD$0.27) billion production values for waste collectors and NT$44.6 (USD$1.27) billion for recyclers, as sown in Table I. Te data sow tat waste iron can collectors and waste aluminum can recyclers are te greatest contributors of production value in te collecting business and recycling industry, respectively. Te waste iron can collectors contributed about 33% production value for collecting side, and te waste aluminum can recyclers contributed about 42% production value for recycling side. Also sown in Table I, te estimated value-added sows tat te Taiwan recycling market in 1998 generated about NT$35 (USD$1) billion. Of tis total, collectors contributed about NT$15.5 (USD$0.44) billion and recyclers NT$19.5 (USD$0.56) billion, respectively (see Table I for details). Te waste collectors contributed about 0.28% of GDP to te service sector, and te recyclers contributed about 0.8% of GDP in te manufacturing industrial sector in Estimated employment opportunities of recycling market Table II reveals tat te recycling market in Taiwan provides 189,551 employment opportunities. Compared wit te total employed population of Taiwan in 1998 of million [6], te recycling market is around 2% of total employed population in Taiwan. Te collection business part of te total was 182,538 and tis amounts to about 3.69% of total employed population in te service sector. Te recycling industry part of te total was 7,013 positions wic amounts to around 0.27% of te total employed population of te manufacturing sector in Te background of employees in recycling market is sown in Table III and IV for collection business and recycling industry, respectively. Table III indicates tat te employees of te collection businesses ave low-level education and ig age for waste container collectors. Results also sow tat ig percentages of waste container collectors ave only an elementary scool education or less, and teir ages average more tan 50. In contrast, te solid waste collector employees are middle aged and ave middle-level education. Hig percentages of solid waste collectors ave a ig scool education, and teir ages lie between 30 and 50. Table IV sows tat te employees of te waste recycling industry ave a ig percentage wo obtained a middle-level education and are of middle age. Te age of employees in te recycling sector tended to be muc younger tan tat of employees in te collection sector, wile te education level of te recycling sector was also iger tan tat of te collection sector. According to te results, te average education level in te recycling market is below ig scool level. Tis data implies tat te recycling market in Taiwan presently provides te benefits of job opportunities for low-level educated and ig age laborers and in te near future, te recycling market may provide even larger potential employment opportunities for unemployed, less educated, older laborers.

6 126 Eser Hsu and Cen-Ming Kuo Vol. 1, No. 2 Table I: Estimated production values and value-added of recycling market (1998) Unit: million NT$ Recycling Item Production Values Value-added Collectors Recyclers Collectors Recyclers Subtotal Waste Containers 3,114 3,854 1,793 1,383 3,176 Iron cans 1, Aluminum cans 700 1, ,009 Paper containers Glass bottles 139 1, Plastic containers Pesticide containers Oter Solid Wastes 23,739 40,780 13,661 18,155 31,816 Automobiles Tires 1, Lubricant oil 32 39, ,792 17,810 Lead Batteries 22, , ,085 Total 26,853 44,634 15,454 19,538 34,992 Table II: Estimated employment opportunities of recycling market (1998) Unit: persons Recycling Item Employment opportunities Collectors Recyclers Total Waste Containers 15,816 2,540 18,356 Iron cans 5, ,726 Aluminum cans 2, ,192 Paper containers 1, ,967 Glass bottles 851 1,610 2,461 Plastic containers 4, ,822 Pesticide containers Oter Solid Wastes 166,722 4, ,195 Automobiles 1, ,363 Tires 6, ,165 Lubricant oil 961 3,915 4,876 Lead Batteries 157, ,791 Total 182,538 7, ,551

7 Vol. 1, No. 2 Houseold Solid Waste Recycling Induced Production Values and Employment 127 Table III: Background of employees in Taiwan recycling market collection business Unit: % Recycling Item Employees of Waste Collection Education Age Elementary scool and below Hig scool College and above Below 30 30~50 Above 50 Waste Containers Iron cans Aluminum cans Paper containers Glass bottles Plastic containers Pesticide containers Oter Solid Wastes Automobiles Tires Lubricant oil Lead Batteries Table IV: Background of employees in Taiwan recycling market recycling industry Unit: % Recycling Item Employees of Waste Recycling Plants Education Age Elementary scool and below Hig scool College and above Below 30 30~50 Above 50 Waste Containers Iron cans Aluminum cans Paper containers Glass bottles Plastic containers Pesticide containers Oter Solid Wastes Automobiles Tires Lubricant oil Lead Batteries Conclusions Taiwan EPA s 4-in-1 recycling system as been implemented since Due to te large amount of funding for recycling, te performance and effectiveness of reccyling as become an important issue for te fund payers, budget auditors (congressmen/congresswomen), and EPA. Te aim of tis study was to evaluate te recycling performance and effectiveness based on te production values and employment opportunities

8 128 Eser Hsu and Cen-Ming Kuo Vol. 1, No. 2 provided by te recycling market. Results sow tat Taiwan recycling market in 1998 generated NT$26.9 (USD$0.27) billion from collection/sorting business and NT$44.6 (USD$1.27) billion from te recycling industry. Total estimated added value was approximately NT$35 (USD$1) billion, of wic NT$15.5 (USD$0.44) billion was from te collection/sorting business and NT$19.5 (USD$0.56) billion was from recycling. Te collection/sorting business represents about 0.28% of gross domestic product (GDP) in te service sector, and te recycling industry represents about 0.8% of GDP in manufacturing sector in Moreover, results also sow tat te recycling market provided 189,551, wic is around 2% of total employed population in Taiwan. Of tis total, 182,538 was collection/sorting business (3.69% of service jobs) and 7,013 positions (0.27% manufacturing jobs) in Te background of employees in te recycling market sows tat a ig percentage of employees ave a low-level of education and are older in age. Tat implies tat te recycling market in Taiwan provides potential jobs for a part of te population tat would be able to benefit from tese opportunities. Similar to oter developed countries, te industrial structure as canged in Taiwan. Currently, ig tecnology industries increasingly dominate te Taiwan economy, wile te traditional industries are experiencing recession. Te rising of unemployment rate is accelerated by te unemployed laborers from traditional industries. It is increasingly difficult to obtain a job in te ig tecnology industries especially for tose older unemployed laborers wit a low-level of education. According to tis study, te average education level in recycling industries is below te ig scool level. In te near future, te recycling industries may provide an even larger potential of employment opportunities for tose low-level educated laborers. Altoug te collection and recycling industry as many problems to solve, te recycling system implemented by te government as significant potential to imrpove economic efficiency by way of te production values generated by collection and recycling of refuse and waste and te added benefits of potential employment opportunities. Te government program to require te collection and recycling of ouseold waste as stimulated te development of te waste recycling industry and tat will also bring environmental benefits to te country of a cleaner landscape, better use of land areas, and employment for older laborers. Acknowledgements Te first autor (Eser Hsu) would like to acknowledge tat Taiwan EPA wit project number EPA support tis researc.

9 Vol. 1, No. 2 Houseold Solid Waste Recycling Induced Production Values and Employment 129 References 1. Environmental Protection Statistics Montly Taiwan Area, te Republic of Cina (Taipei, Taiwan: Environmental Protection Administration, 2000). 2. Cocran, W. G., Sampling Tecniques, tird edition (New York, NY: Jon Wiley & Sons, 1977). 3. Hsu, E., An Analysis on Production Value and Employment Opportunities of Solid Waste Recycling (final report EPA , Taipei, Taiwan: Environmental Protection Administration, 1999). 4. Hedayat, A. S., Sina, B.K., Design and Inference in Finite Population Sampling (New York, NY: Jon Wiley & Sons, 1991). 5. National Income in Taiwan Area, R. O. C. (Taipei, Taiwan: Directorate-General of Budgets, Accounting, and Statistics, Executive Yuan, 2000). 6. Yearbook of Manpower Survey Statistics, Taiwan Area, R. O. C. (Taipei, Taiwan: Directorate-General of Budgets, Accounting, and Statistics, Executive Yuan, 2000).