The role and success of UK waste minimisation clubs in the correction of market and information failures

The UK waste strategy is based upon a concept of a hierarchy of preferable options for handling and disposal of waste. Minimisation is at the top of t his hierarchy and several policy strategies have been introduced to encoura ge the uptake of waste minimisation methodology by industry. Waste minimisa tion clubs are a key component of the UK waste strategy and an essential ve hicle for encouraging industry and commerce to undertake waste minimisation methodology. There have been similar to 75 such clubs and they receive sup port from a wide range of sources, including the Environmental Technology B est Practice Programme and Environment Agency. The majority of clubs have f acilitated a significant reduction in solid, liquid and gaseous waste arisi ngs alongside financial savings achieved through increased efficiency. Acad emic literature claims that waste minimisation clubs are highly successful, but this has never been quantified. To address this, the study identifies economic reasons leading to excess waste production, namely market and info rmation failure and then evaluates the role of waste minimisation clubs in overcoming these failures. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.