Synergies and trade-offs quantification from regional waste policy to sustainable development goals: The case of Kyoto City

Abstract

Waste management policies introduced at regional levels can have a bearing effect on sustainable development goal (SDG) achievement at such levels, promoting certain SDG targets, while hindering other SDG targets. This work introduces an empirical methodology for estimating the synergies and trade-offs for a city-level waste management policy with SDG achievements, taking the case of Kyoto City's extensive waste management policy package and its interactions with renewable energy (RE) development (SDG 7), decent economic growth (SDG 9), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), and sustainable consumption (SDG 12). Similar interactions at the national-level are also enumerated with the justified indicators at the city-level being extended to the national-level. Through pairwise correlation, multiple correlation, and regression, four hypotheses for circular economy compatibility with SDG achievement were tested. It was found that manufacturing value and small business growth is stunted by circular economy-based waste policies, while resource efficiency is promoted. Cultural and social structures have trade-offs with stringent waste management at city-levels, but is neutral at aggregated levels. RE development is also synergetic with circular economy-based waste management. This methodology shows a pathway as to how national- and city-level policies can be integrated with each other in order to optimize waste management and overall sustainability.