Factors Influencing Households’ Willingness to Pay for Improved Waste Management in Kalutara Urban Council Area

Abstract

Due to rapid urbanization and population growth most countries in the world experiencing lack of solid waste management practices despite citizens’ demand for it and has become a major national issue in Sri Lanka. Although many countries in the world have municipal sanitation taxes, the Government of Sri Lanka has not set any taxes on solid waste. This paper investigates the willingness to pay (WTP) for the improved solid waste management (SWM) in Kalutara urban council area of Western Province in Sri Lanka. A questionnaire survey of 75 randomly selected households in Kalutara city was done to assess the factors influencing WTP of households for improved urban SWM. Factors such as monthly income of the household, age, gender, education level, occupation, number of family members, awareness of the solid waste management, were considered to determine the factors that influence households’ WTP for improved SWM. A descriptive and a statistical analysis were done in this study. For the statistical analysis multiple regression was used by SPSS Version 20 to determine the relationship between WTP and each of the variables mentioned above. The education level of the households has shown high as 93.3% which have completed formal education up to G.C.E. (O/L) and higher. According to the results 9.3%, 10.6% and 24% households engaged in Government, semi-Government and private sector jobs respectively. Only 4% of the households do not have proper awareness in SWM while others have very good or little knowledge. The total monthly income of the household was above Rs. 10001 in 65.3% respondents. Results of statistical analysis reveal that households’ WTP for improved SWM is significantly related to income and the education level of the household at P<0.05 among other factors. The WTP can be a guide for local authority officials in setting an appropriate fee which may lead to a proper solid waste management practices, thereby all households may receive effective collection service, proper waste disposal, and further recycling and composting practices could be promoted.