Effectiveness of State Pollution Prevention Programs and Policies Essay

The main objectives of the study include applying the dynamic panel data models in examining the effectiveness of state policies and legislations aimed at reducing waste products and increasing the implementation of P2 programs. The study also examines the management-based, information-based, and regulatory-based policies that reduce pollution and that are aimed at increasing the adoption of pollution prevention programs. Moreover, the study examines the effectiveness of reporting among facilities and institutions with good environmental performance. As such, the study establishes that state legislations are effective in promoting the application of P2 programs, and in the reduction of waste products. The study also finds that there is stronger reporting efficiency within facilities with appropriate environmental performance (Ramirez Harrington, 2013).

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The Toxic Releases Inventory within the study provides with a platform for learning about pollution prevention activities and toxic chemical releases activities reported by state and organizational facilities. The TRI in the study impacts P2 in a variety of ways since it is useful in collecting information and in tracking the progress of the policies and legislations established on reducing waste generation as well as moving towards safer alternatives of waste management. It is a tool used in defining the most effective legislations and policies, as well as in highlighting the success of P2. This means that the policies and legislations applied in the P2 program are determined by the Toxic Releases Inventory.

As mentioned, the study has applied dynamic panel data models in examining the effectiveness of both policies and legislations aimed at reducing toxic waste and increasing the use of P2 programs. While adopting these frameworks and models, the author uses a variety of variables within the program and the institution which includes planning, toxic release quantities, total P2, target, among others. In policy adoption, the study has applied Probit Models. Such models are aimed at explaining the factors impacting and influencing states towards legislating P2 programs or adopting specific policy instruments.

Typically, the costs associated with a P2 program might differ, depending on the organization, its industry, as well as the policies adopted by the P2 program. This is attributed to the type and amount of waste generated, as well as legislations applied while implementing the P2 program. To that end, when examining the costs of P2 programs, the important factors to consider include the legislation on the waste materials, as well as the toxicity of the waste materials.

The author of the study has concluded that toxic waste legislations have been effective in promoting the implementation of P2 programs and in reducing wastes, based on the 500 sample firms examined (Ramirez Harrington, 2013). The impacts of policy instruments, according to the author, might vary. As such, firms and organizations located in areas with mandatory planning and reporting requirement tend to adopt P2 programs, even in areas where toxic waste reduction policies do not apply. This is due to the fact that laws on waste management prohibit uncontrolled waste disposal practices, and requires waste collectors to keep records and work under special authorization.

References

Ramirez Harrington, D. (2013). Effectiveness of state pollution prevention programs and policies. Contemporary Economic Policy, 31(2), 255-278.