Solid waste management synthesis note No. 6. Success and sustainability indicators for primary colection of solid waste

In most low-income countries door-to-door collection of solid waste is not provided by the municipality. It is the householders responsibility to convey waste from the point of generation to transfer points located throughout residential areas. The waste is then collected from these points by the municipality. However, the municipality is frequently under-staffed and under-financed resulting in a poor service. Transfer points are often sparse, resulting in the build-up of waste in local areas, on streets and open plots presenting a hazard to the local residents. In may cities in low-income countries primary solid waste collection schemes have been developed by NGOs, community groups, micro-contractors and local politicians to address this problem. They provide door-to-door collection of waste and convey it to the nearest municipal transfer point. Typically a service charge is collected from the users of this service.