The impact of municipal solid waste sorting policy on air pollution: Evidence from Shanghai, China

Municipal solid waste (MSW) sorting not only reduces the total quantity of domestic waste but also has positive effects on urban air quality. In this study, using a careful identification strategy and air quality data at the monitoring station level in Shanghai, we estimate the causal effect of the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2022-11, Vol.17 (11), p.e0277035-e0277035
Main Authors: Wang, Yaopei, Shi, Qingling
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air pollution
Air quality
Air quality indexes
Air quality management
Airborne particulates
Analysis
Carbon
Carbon monoxide
Environmental monitoring
Household wastes
Hypotheses
Influence
Methods
Municipal solid waste
Municipal waste management
Nitrogen dioxide
Outdoor air quality
Solid waste management
Solid wastes
Sustainability
Urban air
Urban air quality
Waste sorting
Weather forecasting
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Summary:Municipal solid waste (MSW) sorting not only reduces the total quantity of domestic waste but also has positive effects on urban air quality. In this study, using a careful identification strategy and air quality data at the monitoring station level in Shanghai, we estimate the causal effect of the MSW sorting policy on urban air quality. The results show that after the MSW sorting policy was implemented, the air quality index (AQI), nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2) and carbon monoxide (CO) decreased significantly by 2.71%, 2.07% and 3.62%, respectively. We also find a positive spillover effect from the Shanghai MSW sorting policy on the air quality of adjacent cities. The implementation of this policy has triggered changes in residents' behaviors. However, the government needs further efforts to maintain the sustainability of MSW sorting policies.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0277035