Title: Solid waste collection efficiency among South African municipalities

Authors: Genius Murwirapachena; Nqobile Mpala

Addresses: Department of Public Management and Economics, Durban University of Technology, 41 ML Sultan Road, Berea, Durban, 4001, South Africa ' Department of Public Administration and Economics, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

Abstract: In most developing countries, municipalities are an effective vehicle for local economic development. They are commonly responsible for providing public services to local communities within their jurisdictions. Evidence exists that municipalities are mostly inefficient in providing these services. The worst reality is that municipal efficiency is not commonly measured in developing countries and proper performance benchmarking is rarely done. Using municipal data for the years 2013 and 2014, this study examines efficiency in solid waste collection and its determinants in South Africa. The study uses the stochastic non-parametric envelopment of data method to estimate efficiency. Further, the generated municipal-specific efficiency scores are regressed against selected variables using the pooled ordinary least square and random effect models to establish the determinants of efficiency. Four key findings are reported, and some policy implications deduced. Municipal efficiency in emerging economies like South Africa is important because efficiency gains are useful in transforming communities and living standards.

Keywords: efficiency; performance benchmarking; solid waste collection; StoNED.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2024.140967

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2024 Vol.34 No.4, pp.395 - 421

Received: 07 Dec 2020
Accepted: 02 Mar 2022
Published online: 05 Sep 2024 *

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