Empirical evidence on recycling and trade of paper and lead in developed and developing countries

In recent decades most countries have experienced substantial increases in recycling. During the same period, international trade of recyclable materi als between developed countries and developing countries has also grown. In creasingly, waste materials recovered in developed countries are exported f or utilization in developing countries. We investigate the causes of this t rend,focusing on two materials: paper and lead. Trade patterns of these mat erials are analyzed for the developed and developing world. We find that co untries that have actively participated in trade of recyclables have higher recycling rates than those with closed recycling systems. Other factors th at contribute to the intensity of recycline are geography and economic cond itions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.