Assessing the preference and spatial dependence of a solid waste management system in Nepal: A choice experiment approach

Abstract

This study deploys a choice experiment method to estimate the preference and willingness to pay for a better solid waste management system in Siddharthanagar municipality in Nepal. A primary survey of 611 households was conducted, and the results from the Generalized Multinomial Logit Model (GMNL) indicate a public preference for a better waste management service. Significant heterogeneity in household preferences is evident after accommodating each choice selection's preference certainty in the GMNL model. On average, households prefer to pay the highest amount for constructing and maintaining a sanitary landfill, which is Nepalese Rupee (NPR) 158/month (USD 1.43). The geographic distribution of the marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) by hot spot analysis from the geocoded location also indicates spatial heterogeneity across the study area. The MWTP for each waste management attribute is spatially autocorrelated, and household awareness and attitude significantly impact this spatial dependence. Overall, both the choice models result and spatial analyses indicate the policy should be targeted at a localized level to increase awareness concerning the proper management of solid waste.

Keywords: Choice experiment; Generalized multinomial logit model (GMNL); Nepal; Sanitary landfill; Solid waste management; Spatial analysis; Willingness to pay.