Responsibility for regional waste generation: A single-region extended input-output analysis for Wales

Abstract

This paper uses a regional input-output framework and data derived on waste generation by industry to examine different aspects of regional waste accountability. In addition to estimating a series of industry output-waste coefficients, the paper considers a series of methods for waste attribution from production and consumption perspectives. In particular, it considers a method that permits a greater focus on regional (private and public) final consumption as the main exogenous driver of waste generation. In doing so, it uses a domestic technology assumption to consider a regional waste footprint where local consumption requirements are assumed to be met using production technologies over which regional authorities are likely to have more control.