Emerging solid waste market in Lilongwe urban, MAlawi: application of dichotomous choise contingent valuation method

Type Journal Article - Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa
Title Emerging solid waste market in Lilongwe urban, MAlawi: application of dichotomous choise contingent valuation method
Author(s)
Volume 15
Issue 4
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2013
URL http://www.jsd-africa.com/Jsda/Vol15No4-Summer2013B/PDF/Emerging Solid Waste Market in Lilongwe​Malawi.Assa Maganga.pdf
Abstract
From over the recent past, Lilongwe city in Malawi has been one of the areas where more waste is generated. This solid waste generation has exceeded current infrastructural capacity of City Council and the resulting effect has been the steady degeneration in the quality of solid waste management. Consequently, solid waste management problem has threatened public health and environmental quality. Such environment changes might erode an enabling environment for potential investors, which could be a catalyst for economic development, in the near future. Consequently, health and economic development initiatives at other levels can be arrested and may remain unsustainable. Therefore, this paper provides an empirical analysis of the willingness to pay for the collection of household waste for improved solid waste management in Lilongwe urban. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select one hundred and fifty seven households from the study area. Using a comprehensive cross sectional data set on sampled households in a Lilongwe urban, the study used dichotomous choice Contingent Valuation Method to estimate factors that affect willingness to pay for household waste disposal. Total willingness-to-pay value was estimated to be MK14 million per month. This could be the solution to the problem of inadequate budget for improved and sustainability in solid waste management. Level of education, concern for environmental quality, income level and satisfaction for waste collection were shown to be important predictors of willingness-to-pay.

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