Toxic waste and public procurement: The defense sector as a disproportionate contributor to pollution from public-private partnerships

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Hill, Dustin T.; Collins, Mary B.
• 署名单位: State University of New York (SUNY) System; State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science & Forestry; Syracuse University; State University of New York (SUNY) System; State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science & Forestry
• 刊物名称: REGULATION & GOVERNANCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1748-5983
• DOI: 10.1111/rego.12462
• 发表日期: 2023
• 页码: 389-410
• 关键词: Supply Chain Management; emission reductions; privileged access; double diversion; consumption; POWER; destruction; performance; INEQUALITY; treadmill

摘要

Public procurement is a large sector of the economy with most procurement going to the defense sector. Procurement by the defense sector includes purchases made through contracts to private businesses that manufacture durable goods. Manufacturing of these goods results in pollution production with toxic wastes being among the most dangerous pollutants for public health. Despite green purchasing policy goals, most transactions in the United States through defense contracts result in disproportionately high-toxic pollution releases by manufacturers. We find that persistent exemptions granted defense agencies from following green purchasing policy result in a landscape where contractor environmental performance is unchanging with defense contractors persistently polluting in high amounts. Further, we find that defense contractors are linked to most toxic releases from procurement meaning that exemptions may be hindering potential advancements from green purchasing policy. Results can inform the design of new guidance about procurement and expand understanding of environmental inequality.