Economic Model for Household Solid Waste Collection

Abstract

Protection of public health and water resources is partly maintained through efficient waste collection. This paper presents a model to calculate collection and transfer cost of household solid waste. The model was applied to estimate the collection and transfer cost of household waste for a district in Cairo, Egypt. The model was calibrated and verified using data that was collected through surveying 30 waste collectors. The model is applied for both new and used trucks and was successful in determining the required fee to be collected per household and per ton of waste. The collection and transfer cost model is based on variable and fixed costs. Collection and transfer costs, in Egypt, were less than those presented in literature. This was attributed to lower labour cost and lower capital costs needed for waste collection and transfer.

Keywords: Municipal solid waste management system; Collection and transfer cost; Household Waste, Waste collection model