Household participation in solid waste management in Tanzania: <i>Does willingness to pay matter</i> ?

This paper investigated solid waste management practices by considering socio-economic factors and household readiness to participate in the management of waste. The study used econometric models to examine the influence of socio-economic factors on solid waste management by specifically looking at the household’s willingness to pay as related to solid waste management. Probit and Tobit regressions were used for a sample of 110 respondents selected with stratified random sampling. The results show that there are different levels of household participation in solid waste management activities and mostly participate in the collection and composting. The non-participation was due to a lack of technical expertise, scarcity of local facilities, lack of public awareness, inter alia. The econometric analysis revealed age, education level, household income, location, and satisfaction with current solid waste management techniques positively and significantly influenced willingness to pay for improved solid waste management. Thus, willingness to pay is a vital lever for improving SWM participation in Tanzania. Policies that combine financial inclusivity, community engagement, quality service delivery, and legal backing can create a sustainable and participatory waste management system.