How Voluntary Environmental Programs Reduce Pollution

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: McGuire, William; Hoang, Phi Cong; Prakash, Aseem
• 署名单位: University of Washington; University of Washington Tacoma; University System of Georgia; University of Georgia; University of Washington; University of Washington Seattle; University of Washington; University of Washington Seattle
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3352
• DOI: 10.1111/puar.12832
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 537-544
• 关键词: competitiveness; performance; INNOVATION; IMPACT

摘要

This article investigates the mechanisms that voluntary environmental program (VEP) participants adopt to reduce pollution. The focus of this article is the 33/50 program, a VEP introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1991 and discontinued in 1995. The program called for emissions reductions for 17 chemicals reported to the Toxics Release Inventory. Using a sample of approximately 12,000 plants, the relationship between 33/50 program participation and adoption of pollution reduction practices is studied for three time periods, 1991-1995 (program life), 1996-2004, and 2005-2013. These practices include source reduction activities (SRAs) and recycling, recovery, and treatment (RRTs). The major findings are that during the program's life, 33/50 participants showed increased adoption of SRAs and RRTs for both targeted and nontargeted chemicals. However, once the program ended, higher adoption rates persisted for RRTs only, with a shift in emphasis toward treatment over recycling and recovery. Evidence for Practice Voluntary environmental programs (VEPs) such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 33/50 program can increase the adoption of both ex post and ex ante pollution reduction measures. VEPs such as the 33/50 program can have legacy effects, producing sustained increases in the adoption of ex post pollution reduction measures even after the program has ended. Outcome-focused VEPs such as the 33/50 program can have a crowding out effect, leading participants to focus on less desirable pollution reduction processes.