The willingness and ability to pay for waste management services amongst the informal sector operators in Kumasi
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Date
June, 2016.
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Abstract
The management of waste continues to be a major challenge in urban areas throughout the world particularly in the rapidly growing cities of the developing countries. Hence, key stakeholders including the government, metropolitan assemblies, companies and individuals are expected to be willing to pay for the services rendered by the waste management companies. The main objective of this research was to assess the willingness and ability to pay and the relationship with utilisation of waste management services among the informal sector operators in Kumasi. It also looked at the utilisation of waste management services and the factors that influence it. Using questionnaires, data was collected from 554 respondents from Subin, Suame and Asokwa sub-metros. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model were employed to analyse the data collected from the respondents. The study found that people are willing to pay for the services provided by the waste management companies and preferred private waste collectors to Metropolitan Assembly. The study showed that 54.7% of the respondents were willing to pay for waste management services. It was found that the maximum amount the respondents were willing to pay was GH¢ 23. However, it was revealed that the respondents’ willingness to pay for waste management services depends on the reliability, efficiency, cost and quality service delivery of waste management providers. Again, quality of waste management service cost of waste management service, the proximity of the waste management service providers to the people and peer influence were found to be the factors that influence people’s utilization of waste management services. The study recommended to all stakeholders including the government and its agencies, district assemblies, private waste management companies and community residences to help improve the management of waste in the country. Specifically, the study recommended to the government and its departments responsible for waste management to revise the environment and waste management policy to enrich it with the requisite strategies to ensure efficient waste management. Again, district assemblies must levy residences with moderate fees while providing quality and reliable waste management services. The pay as you dump waste management policy must be reinforced and price adjustment must be done in moderation. The study also recommends to private waste management companies to review their charges and make it affordable to majority of the people who are willing to pay for their services.
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A thesis submitted to The Department of Health Services Planning and Management, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Public Health in Health Services Planning and Management,