Housing And Household Characteristics And Payment For Solid Waste Disposal In The Greater Accra Region, Ghana

Abstract

Rapid urbanisation, population growth, introduction of environmentally unfriendly materials like plastics and changing lifestyles have created serious environmental problems in most districts and localities within the Greater Accra Region especially in the area of solid waste disposal, management and financing. This study analyses the factors that influence household’s payment for solid waste disposal in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Using the Ghana Living Standard Survey data set, 2006, a total of 1, 257 households were selected for the study. A binary logistic model was employed to estimate household payment for solid waste disposal. The results indicated that all the variables but the household size had significant influence on respondents’ payment for waste disposal at the bivariate level of analyses. However, only type of dwelling, place of residence and wealth quintile were significant at the binary logistic analysis level. The study further revealed that a larger segment of households in the high-wealth quintile bracket subscribe mostly to waste disposal methods that are paid for. The study, therefore, opines the need for increase in budgetary allocations to the various District Assemblies in the region. Subsequently, there is the need for the various District Assemblies to consider adopting an economic funding model by raising fees on high-income households to cover the services of low-income neighborhoods to facilitate broad service coverage.