Informing Efficient and Effective Solid Waste Management to Improve Local Environmental Quality and Public Health: Application of the Choice Experiment Method in West Bengal, India

In this paper we employ the choice experiment method to estimate residents’ willingness to pay (WTP) for improvements in the solid waste management (SWM) services provided in Chandernagore and South Dum Dum municipalities of Greater Kolkata in West Bengal, India. 101 randomly selected residents took part in a choice experiment survey. Data are analysed with conditional logit, random parameter logit and random parameter logit with interactions models. The best fitting random parameter logit with interactions model reveal that there is significant conditional and unconditional heterogeneity in residents’ preferences for improvements in SWM services. The results reveal that on average residents of these municipalities are WTP significant amounts, in terms of higher monthly municipality taxes, to increase the frequency of waste collection, and to ensure that the waste is collected by covered trucks. Differences in WTP values across residents, however, should be taken into consideration to ensure social equity. The results reported in this paper have important policy implications for informing efficient, effective and equitable SWM services aimed at reducing local environmental pollution and the consequent public health risks.