| Activity |
Low Income |
Middle Income |
High Income |
| Source reduction |
No organized programs, but reuse and low per capita
waste generation rates are common. |
Some discussion of source reduction, but rarely
incorporated into an organized program. |
Organized education programs now emphasize source
reduction and reuse of materials. |
| Collection |
Sporadic and inefficient. Service may be limited to
high-visibility areas, wealthy households, businesses willing to pay. |
Improved service and increased collection from
residential areas. May have large vehicle fleet and more mechanization. |
Collection rate greater than 90 percent. Compactor
trucks and mechanized vehicles common. |
| Recycling |
Most recycling is through informal sector and waste
picking. Mainly localized markets and imports of materials for recycling. |
Informal sector still involved; some advanced sorting
and processing facilities; materials often imported for recycling. |
Recycable material collection, high-technology sorting
and processing facilities. Attentive to long-term markets. |
| Composting |
Rarely undertaken formally, though waste stream has
high proportion of organic content. Opportunity to do more here for economic
and environmental gain. |
Large composting plants generally unsuccessful; some
small-scale plants more sustainable. |
More popular at both backyard and large-scale
facilities. Waste stream has smaller portion of compostables than in other
economies. |
| Incineration |
Not common or successful because of high capital and
operating costs, high moisture content and high proportion of inert
matter. |
Some incinerators used, but experiencing financial and
operational difficulties; not as common as in high-income economies. |
Prevalent in areas with high land costs. Most have
some environmental controls and some heat recovery system. |
| Landfilling |
Low-technology sites, usually open dumping of
wastes. |
Some controlled and sanitary landfills, with some
environmental controls. Open dumping still common. |
Sanitary landfills with a combination of liners, leak
detection, leachate collection systems, gas collection/treatment. |
| Costs |
Collection costs form 80-90 percent of municipal solid
waste management budgets. Waste fees regulated by some local governments, but
fee collection may be very inefficient. |
Collection costs represent 50-80 percent of municipal
solid waste management budget. Waste fees regulated by some local and national
governments. Innovations in collection are being attempted. |
Collection costs represent under 10 percent of budget.
Large allocations to intermediate waste treatment facilities. Upfront community
participation reduces costs and increases options available to waste management
planners, e.g., recycling and composting. |
