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Article Title:
Economic Valuation of Improved Solid Waste Management in Eldoret Municipality
by Sumukwo Joel, Kiptui Mark and Cheserek Grace J.

Abstract:
Due to high rates of population growth and increasing household disposable incomes Eldoret town is facing enormous solid waste generation. Yet solid waste management is a public good that may not be optimally provided under perfectly competitive market conditions due to indivisibility and non-excludability in consumption. Most attempts at solving waste problems in Kenya have focused on supply-side of waste disposal and collection which have not succeeded, but this paper suggest the use of demand-oriented valuation. The study analyses economic value of improved solid waste management in Eldoret municipality based on 199 sampled household respondents. A contingent valuation method (CVM) and multiple regression techniques are used to identify the determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) values. Results show that residents are WTP on average Kshs 363 per month for solid waste management improvements. This indicates peoples? desire for change in improved waste management. The WTP are influenced by income, education, age and total disposal methods available to the household. The WTP estimates can be used by urban planners and administrators to determine the socially optimal charges for solid waste services and use it as a tool to estimate taxable revenues.

Keywords: contingent valuation, willingness to pay, household waste management

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