Convergence of waste-related indicators of environmental quality in Italy

This study tests the presence of convergence in the main municipal solid waste-related indicators across Italy. In the last decade the waste sector has experienced a profound transformation, both at a European and an Italian level, a transformation in which landfill is losing its primary role as the main means of waste disposal, and other activities, like recycling and incineration, are becoming increasingly important. In this context, β and σ tests of convergence can tell us more about the distribution of the three different rival choices of waste disposal, by assessing the geographic characteristics of this transformation and helping us to obtain a deeper understanding of the effects of European and national policies. Moreover, environmental policies, as well as social polarization and organized crime, may play an extremely relevant role in this scenario, which may influence waste management performances and render the policy environment less stable and less secure. © 2012 Springer.