A Study on Willingness-to-Pay for Improved Solid Waste Management Services in East Delhi Slums and factors influencing that willingness

Abstract

Delhi, being a densely populated metropolitan city, confronts a substantial issue with its daily generation of a significant volume of household waste, which amounts to 11,332 tonnes of solid waste every day. Unfortunately, a considerable portion of this waste ends up untreated in landfills, drains, and the Yamuna River. According to an estimate by Delhi municipal Corporation of Delhi, 4360 tonnes of this waste end up in the city's three landfills. This underscores the urgent need for more effective solid waste management practices. The crux of this problem lies in various factors, with one of the primary contributors being the inadequate compensation provided to essential stakeholders in the waste management supply chain, including waste collectors, disposers, segregators, and processors. Despite the introduction of Delhi's 2018 solid waste management by-laws, which advocate for fees on bulk waste generators, the implementation has not been extended to residential areas. This lack of enforcement is exacerbated by persistent opposition, particularly from Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs). Consequently, a significant proportion of waste continues to be disposed of in the Yamuna River or the expanding landfills, transforming the city's landscape in a concerning manner as these landfills take on the appearance of hills. Effectively tackling this issue necessitates a significant financial commitment, beginning with the introduction of fees for residents, considering their responsibility for upholding cleanliness in the city. However, the resistance to such measures highlights the importance of determining an acceptable financial contribution from city residents. Those residing in slum areas contend with unhygienic conditions due to various factors including low income, unauthorized settlements leading to inadequate infrastructure for waste management, and a general indifference towards waste management practices. Therefore, they represent a demographic that could experience substantial benefits if waste management services are improved in their locality, making it crucial to examine their attitudes and behaviours towards waste management and their willingness to pay for these services. Thus, this paper aims to explore the willingness of slum residents in Delhi to pay for solid waste management services and the diverse factors influencing this willingness. To comprehensively explore these aspects, the study adopts a qualitative approach, conducting interviews with respondents from both slums and residential colonies. It also investigates various behavioural aspects impacting this willingness and lacunae that solid waste management faces in the state. The analysis employs thematic qualitative research method to understand Structured into sections comprising an introduction, literature review, results and findings, policy recommendations, and conclusion and discussions, the paper seeks to contribute valuable insights to the discourse surrounding sustainable and effective solid waste management in Delhi.