Towards sustainability: institutional capacity of the Netherlands to successfully implement extended producer responsibility principles in the in the household-appliances sector

Abstract

In order to manage the growing amounts of electronic en electrical waste (WEEE), extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation is being implemented throughout Europe. This paper builds upon institutional theory and will evaluate the Netherlands institutional capacity to implement EPR policy. Is the arrangement of institutional factors (actors, rules, discourse and resources) able to deliver the capacity to implement a good EPR policy? In the Netherlands the EPR legislation has resulted in one producer responsibility organization (PRO)responsible for the collection and treatment of WEEE. This organization is establishing a new collaborative network by contracting municipalities, businesses and retailers to deliver their WEEE to them. However, large complementary waste flows (waste flows not treated by the PRO) still exist because EPR legislation doesn’t encompass all waste streams. Therefore the EPR legislation doesn’t reach its potential.