A novel approach to balancing stakeholder interests in construction waste landfill charges for advancing a circular economy

Landfill charging schemes effectively reduce construction and demolition waste (C&DW) sent to landfills, advancing the global circular economy. Their success, however, depends on scientifically sound charging standards. Current methods for setting landfill charges largely rely on waste generators’ willingness to pay, with little consideration for landfill operators’ interests. To address this gap, this study proposes a novel, stakeholder-inclusive approach to develop waste landfill charging standards. Distinct from methods centered on willingness to pay, this approach integrates both generators’ cost considerations and operators’ revenue needs, alongside market realities (e.g., costs of alternative disposal facilities, transportation expenses). It comprises four progressive steps: (1) identifying the generation area and specific locations of the C&DW to be landfilled; (2) calculating the total disposal costs at alternative facilities; (3) estimating transportation costs from waste sources to the target landfill; (4) determining the final charging standard by balancing cost-efficiency for generators and operational sustainability for operators. Validated through a case study of the Litoushan Landfill in Shenzhen, China, the approach yielded an optimal charging standard ranging from CNY 106 to CNY 112/m3. This method provides a valuable, and actionable reference for policymakers worldwide to establish evidence-based C&DW landfill charging standards, strengthening waste management practices globally. Additionally, its adaptable framework can be extended to determine charging standards for other waste types (e.g., municipal solid waste, industrial solid waste), further supporting the global transition to a circular economy.