Taking out the trash: Household preferences over municipal solid waste collection in Harbin, China

Abstract

As developing countries become richer, local government often takes on responsibility for municipal household solid waste (MHSW) collection from the informal sector. However, government provision of waste collection can prove challenging, and especially so when local government has limited information about households' waste collection preferences. Harbin, the largest city in North-East China, provides an excellent case study. We here present the findings of a survey of 613 households' preferences over MHSW collection services. A multinomial logistic regression model allows us to isolate the different household socio-demographic characteristics influencing waste collection preferences. We use the results to suggest improvements in existing waste collection in Harbin.