Measuring the Generation and Collection of Household Solid Waste in Cities

Abstract

This study investigates several aspects and policy implications of the generation and collection of residential solid waste in a sample of midwestern cities. Most of the data were obtained from carefully developed questionnaires and a large number of personal interviews. In particular, the investigation examines the impacts on the generation and collection of refuse resulting from the imposition of user charges, improvements in the quality of service, and changes in the type of collector. The importance of income, popula tion, and economics of scale are also examined. The results indicate that user charges are likely to have a significant effect on the amount of refuse placed out for collection. Service frequency does not have such an impact, although it does have a substantial effect on collection costs. No economies of scale are observed for the range of community sizes in the sample. Private operations are found, on average, to be more efficient than municipal systems.