Analysis of residents' choice of waste charge methods and willingness to pay amount for solid waste management in Hong Kong

Among various waste charging methods, the quantity-based method will most likely be adopted by the government of Hong Kong because of its effectiveness in reducing waste, as demonstrated in a few major cities. Several quantity-based methods exist. A large sample questionnaire survey was conducted in this study to examine residents’ choice among three quantity-based waste charging methods, willingness to pay (WTP) amount, and the factors that influence these choices. Results revealed that residents prefer the household volume charging method and the average WTP amount for waste disposal should be HKD 38.4 per month. Multinomial logit model results indicated that five key factors affect the choice of waste charging method, whereas the Tobit model results suggested that seven factors significantly affect the WTP amount. Among the factors, the perceived fairness and effectiveness of the quantity-based waste charging methods affected the choice of waste charging method and the WTP amount, apart from demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes toward the government’s waste management proposals. Results may be useful for concerned groups in designing and implementing waste charge policies.