Effects of area characteristics and municipal waste collection fees on household waste generation

Abstract

This study attempted to calculate the amount of waste generated by the residents, households and commercial businesses in Songkhla and Hat Yai cities under three potential scenarios: (1) status quo—no charge for waste collection service (current situation); (2) an equal fee charging rate for constituents of both Songkhla and Hat Yai cities as stated in the Public Health Law of Thailand; (3) a different waste collection fee within the cities of Songkhla and Hat Yai as proposed and concluded in the study of Siritorn (Presented at the APBERSconferences in Japan, 2017, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University,Beppu, 2017). The regression results of the double-log model indicated that different optimal rates for waste collection fee in each city would decrease the waste produced in Songkhla by 162 kg per day and decrease waste production by 503 kg per day in Hat Yai. As a result, the two municipalities could generate a double benefit of (1) savings from total expenditure on waste management and (2) savings from the adjustment of behaviour of the residents to create a decrease in the present waste production total amounts. In summary, the “different” fee policy strategy created a win–win situation for the municipalities. © 2019, Springer Japan KK, part of Springer Nature.