Measure the difference in efficiency in waste disposal and collection services from the EU targets in the Campania municipalities.

Abstract

The study analyses the economic and environmental performance of the 353 municipalities in the region of Campania in the waste disposal and collection services. This study consists of three steps, firstly municipal performance in the management of waste services from a linear economy point view is assessed. Secondly, a circular economy paradigm is considered and jointly the economic (minimization of management costs) and environmental (waste minimization) performance of municipalities management is measured; two different DEA models are employed using information provided by the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research for the year 2016. Third, in order to rank the most virtuous municipalities in the environmental dimension (toward a circular economy paradigm), the study defines a measure of the efficiency deviation from environmental sustainability. The results show a cluster of municipalities in the metropolitan area of Naples and Caserta with a worse performance in the environmental dimension but with a good performance in the economic dimension. The succession of national and regional regulations has accentuated the uncertainty in the executive process and in the management of the waste cycle, creating a regulatory vacuum. Local governments should act on citizen motivations, promoting awareness on environmental issues, and should implement time-saving collection methods. JEL: D61; H3; H76; I38; Q24; Q53; Q56; R14;