Evolution and spatial heterogeneity patterns of ecological efficiency of resource recycling in China.

Analyzing the evolution and heterogeneity patterns of resources' ecological efficiency in China could provide reference for balancing regional development and improving the ecological efficiency of resource recycling. With the panel data of resource recycling in 26 provinces (cities, regions), we measured the ecological efficiency during 2004 to 2017 by the super efficiency DEA model, and analyzed the evolution of ecological efficiency and heterogeneity patterns based on the regionalization. The results showed that, from 2004 to 2017, the ecological efficiency of resource recycling was increasing yearly, with a mean annual growth potential of 1.5%, showing an spatially increasing trend from inland to coast. The ecological efficiency in China showed significant spatial correlation, with clustering character among provinces. During 2004 to 2017, the overall correlation decreased yearly due to the strong radiation effect of high level provinces. Because of the decrease of differentiation in the north, northeast, east, central, south, southwest and northwest in China, the spatial heterogeneity of ecological efficiency of resource recycling in China turned to relieve, which was weakened by the increasing heterogeneity in the southwest region.