Operator models for delivering municipal solid waste management services in developing countries. Part A: The evidence base
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This article presents the evidence base for ‘operator models’ – that is, how to deliver a sustainable service through the interaction of the ‘client’, ‘revenue collector’ and ‘operator’ functions – for municipal solid waste management in emerging and developing countries. The companion article addresses a selection of locally appropriate operator models. The evidence shows that no ‘standard’ operator model is effective in all developing countries and circumstances. Each city uses a mix of different operator models; 134 cases showed on average 2.5 models per city, each applying to different elements of municipal solid waste management – that is, street sweeping, primary collection, secondary collection, transfer, recycling, resource recovery and disposal or a combination. Operator models were analysed in detail for 28 case studies; the article summarises evidence across all elements and in more detail for waste collection. Operators fall into three main groups: The public sector, formal private sector, and micro-service providers including micro-, community-based and informal enterprises. Micro-service providers emerge as a common group; they are effective in expanding primary collection service coverage into poor- or peri-urban neighbourhoods and in delivering recycling. Both public and private sector operators can deliver effective services in the appropriate situation; what matters more is a strong client organisation responsible for municipal solid waste management within the municipality, with stable political and financial backing and capacity to manage service delivery. Revenue collection is also integral to operator models: Generally the municipality pays the operator from direct charges and/or indirect taxes, rather than the operator collecting fees directly from the service user.
Date Issued
2017-06-15
Date Acceptance
2017-03-18
Citation
Waste Management and Research, 2017, 35 (8), pp.820-841
ISSN
0734-242X
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Start Page
820
End Page
841
Journal / Book Title
Waste Management and Research
Volume
35
Issue
8
Copyright Statement
© Sage 2017. The final publication is available via Sage at http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0734242X17705723
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Engineering, Environmental
Environmental Sciences
Engineering
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
Municipal service delivery
public-private partnerships
private sector participation
privatisation
waste collection
cost recovery
micro-service providers
PRIVATE-SECTOR INVOLVEMENT
ES-SALAAM CITY
INFORMAL SECTOR
COLLECTION
GHANA
ACCRA
CITIES
ORGANIZATIONS
PARTICIPATION
STRATEGIES
Publication Status
Published