慈善救濟與回收：台灣慈濟無酬動機回收之個案研究

Abstract

This study looks at the role of an NGO, the Tzu Chi Foundation, in the institutions of the Taiwanese recycling sector. The Tzu Chi Foundation has since relatively early on recycled in Taiwan and is a unique example globally; MSW-related literature has no reports of NGOs actively recycling themselves. This thesis views the role from a Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) perspective, focusing on incentive dynamics and institutions in the sector. \nThese incentive dynamics are linked to interests, then activities, which in turn are related to recycling success, which here is measured in terms of ecological impact. It is argued that for the Foundation, hierarchical exclusion takes place, where the ideology incentive dictates that it does not fiercely compete in the recycling market, but instead focuses on improving environmental practice. Results include the quantity that is collected and sorted became less overtime for both paper and total recyclables, as the ideological incentive to collect recycling weakened. Volunteers are also motivated by the ideology, and relatedness incentives, which enabled the organization to grow large rapidly. The whole indicates the potential for ideologically motivated NGOs, but with a side note that ideology is hard to control or replicate.\nWhereas not unexpected for an non-for-profit organization, its use of non-material incentives allow it to provide help towards improvement of recycling, and other authors that plead for increased opportunities for informal sector recycling in MSWM development are supported by this paper’s results. While not directly visible through the conceptual framework used in this thesis, it is also concluded that its activities provide stimulation for other parties in a recycling sector; however, some problems are also observed considering low-income recyclable collectors known as scavengers. As a result, a framework for studying a recycling sector from an incentives perspective is also suggested.