Evaluating the resource recovery efficiency of garbage removal and disposal in Taiwan.

All countries recognize the importance of enhancing circular resource utilization and promoting zero waste in order to achieve a circular economy. This study focuses on 22 counties (cities) in Taiwan and analyses the relationship between changes in resource recovery efficiency and productivity over an 8-year period (2011-2018) using the super efficiency directional distance function and total factor productivity. The results indicate that the average total efficiency of resource recovery in the 22 counties (cities) is 1.3951, with 17 counties (cities) exceeding 1. The average gross productivity of resource recovery is 1.0417, and only four counties have a gross productivity of less than 1. Despite having more administrative resources, municipalities directly under the central government have a slightly lower average total efficiency of resource recovery (1.1464) than non-municipalities (1.4885). To improve efficiency, the government should allocate resources rationally and upgrade technology. The study's findings can serve as a reference for the 22 counties (cities) in Taiwan and provide guidance for municipal governments worldwide in developing policies related to resource recovery.

Evaluating the energy, health efficiency, and productivity in OECD.

In the past, energy and environmental research focused on the performance of individual efficiencies. In order to make up for the research deficiencies, this research uses SBM (slack-based measures) dynamic network DEA (DN-SBM) to assess energy, health efficiency, and DN-TFP productivity changes from 2011 to 2015. This research uses forest area as the carryover that can objectively measure the performance of OECD energy, health, and total efficiency, and calls for the importance of forest protection and planting. The empirical results show that Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, and Turkey have the best overall efficiency performance, while Ireland (0.4469), Israel (0.4179), and the Netherlands (0.3697) are the three worst. In total, 29 economies show progress in terms of productivity. Moreover, Chile (0.9706), Mexico (0.9995), Slovak Republic (0.9942), Turkey (0.9815), and the UK (0.9886) exhibit a slight decline. The overall efficiency value of 20 countries is greater than the average, and their productivity is showing an upward trend. Only the UK (0.5081, 0.9886) has an overall efficiency value that is less than the overall average with productivity that is showing a drop. About research method, this study utilizes dynamic intertemporal data to evaluate the changes in the overall efficiency and productivity of OECD members with DN-SBM and DN-TFP indices in order to offer more objective research results for various economies that are useful for formulating policies related to energy, national health, and forest conservation.

The Energy Efficiency and Public Health in the ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation.

This study pays more attention to the energy consumption saving, environmental pollution, and health efficiency improvement. We employ the Slack-based measure of Dynamic network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model (DNSBM) to assess the impact of forestry area on annual and overall energy and health efficiency in 2 intertemporal stages, and also put forward on direction and magnitude to be improved respect to the slack variables. For the empirical study, this study employs the 13 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus Three Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as APT) during 2011-2015. From the empirical evidence, it is not easy to raise gross domestic product while reducing energy consumption and PM2.5 emissions to improve energy efficiency. What makes people neglect is the impact of reduced forestry area on health efficiency. Optimistically, all economies are able to adopt measures from policy and technical perspectives, for instance, appropriately adjust energy-related policies, energetically develop innovative energy technologies, and preserve forestry areas, to create a harmonious atmosphere featuring economic development, environmental conservation, and national health and well-being.