SCHOOL OF
ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT
ARISTOTLE
UNIVERSITY
T HESSALONIKI
ENERGY SECTION
Deliverable 2.2.3
SWOT analysis of different PAYT concepts
LIFE 07ENV/GR/000271
Table of Contents
1.
Introduction ........................................................................................................ 2
2.
HEC-PAYT ........................................................................................................ 2
3.
SWOT analysis................................................................................................... 3
4.
Data collection ................................................................................................... 4
4.1. Answers in Citizen Info ..................................................................................... 6
4.2. Answers in Questionnaires ................................................................................. 8
5.
Methodology .................................................................................................... 18
6.
Results .............................................................................................................. 19
7.
Conclusions ...................................................................................................... 20
Abbreviations ............................................................................................................... 21
Bibliography ................................................................................................................ 21
Annexes........................................................................................................................ 22
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1. Introduction
Household waste is generally defined as waste generated by normal household
activities. Household waste collection systems vary throughout the world, from no
organized collection at all (Mbande, 2003), to the collection of 10 separate recyclable
fractions at the doorstep using multi-compartment vehicles (Dahlen et al., 2007a).
Household waste collection can be divided into property-close (curbside) collection
and collection at drop-off points (bring systems). Containers of different sizes and
shapes are employed at drop-off points. In property-close collection, combinations of
bins, racks, sacks and bags are used, which are sometimes placed outdoors, sometimes
indoors. Source-sorted materials can be collected completely separated or
commingled. Commingled collection can be designed either for manual or mechanical
sorting at so-called material recovery facilities. Optical sorting techniques are
sometimes applied, based on the use of colour-coded bags for specific materials
collected in the same bin. Household hazardous waste (HHW), bulky waste and yard
waste are usually collected separately or taken to supervised recycling centres by
householders. The present study focused on ways of encouraging community
participation in PAYT concept and, in particular, how such participation by
community, public and government sectors can be increased.
2. HEC-PAYT
Solid waste is one of the largest outlays in the urban area and associated with serious
consequences to the living quality and considerable cost burdens for the communities.
Before this background, many countries have already started to make remarkable
efforts to improve the situation regarding the generation and management of these
wastes which has led to significant progress both in terms of policy and legislation
during the past decade. Moreover, an increasing number of countries has started the
transition from the rather unsophisticated one-sided approach mostly reliant on waste
dumping to waste management systems which will better reflect and give effect to the
waste hierarchy, and take the responsibility of the different actors in the consumption
chain into account.
The growing economical and environmental pressure and the need to comply with
European legislation reinforced the demand to enhance sustainability in the area of
municipal waste management based on efforts towards waste reduction and the
principle to redistribute the costs of the waste management system among the waste
generators in form of payments that correspond fairly to the burden with which they
are straining this system (polluter pays principle). The application of variable pricing
mechanisms from municipalities known as Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) is a valid
instrument where both components intertwine.
The approach of PAYT (also known as variable rate pricing, unit pricing,
differentiated tariff system) in waste management is to realise the polluter pays
principle in a fair manner by charging people in accordance to the amount of waste
which they actually generate.
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In the traditional schemes for household waste management in Europe people put out
their discard in public containers or into receptacles their dwelling has been assigned
to use for collection. The financing of this service via general taxes or by levying a
fixed recurring fee causes them to bear for the disposal behaviour and waste amount
of the entire community whether or not the individual quantity contributed has been
comparably small and personal recycling efforts were undertaken. From an economic
perspective, this leads to a situation where the people residing in less privileged urban
environments (densely populated city centres and apartment blocks) as well as the
environmentally conscious part of the population including those persons who are
producing comparatively little waste (like, for example, single retired persons) are
subsidising with their payments households in better-off areas and those who are not
concerned about the waste they are generating. It even puts people in a situation
where they must not mind a lot how much they are consuming, what amount of waste
they produce and what impact their behaviour causes to the environment.
3. SWOT analysis
SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Every
management plan has its strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Considering these strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOTs), a
project coordinator can deal more effectively with the problems that are likely to
come up, and look at ways and means of converting the threats into opportunities, and
off-setting the weaknesses against the strengths. This analysis could be undertaken for
any idea, organization, person, product, programme or project.
In this project, SWOT analysis was applied to develop a comprehensive, yet thorough
analysis of different PAYT schemes, as these were identified and analyzed in Task
2.1. In other words, this PAYT scheme-based SWOT analysis was performed to
develop a part of a strategic action plan of different PAYT concepts for Greece. It
aimed at identifying the positive and negative factors, as well as internal and external
factors, that might have an impact on the proposed PAYT concept. SWOT analysis of
this project was intended to maximize both strengths and opportunities, minimize the
external threats, and transform the identified weaknesses into strengths and to take
advantage of opportunities along with minimizing both internal weaknesses and
external threats.
SWOT is a tool designed to be used in the preliminary stages of decision-making on
the one hand and as a precursor to strategic management planning on the other. It
should be performed by the individual user and also in groups. The group-wise
analysis is particularly effective in providing factors, major objectives, clarity and,
therefore, focuses to all the discussions about strategy-formulation regarding any
proposed PAYT concept.
In the SWOT analysis, available resources and their potential utilization are studied
from the viewpoint of economic, ecological and social sustainability. However, its
main purpose in the planning process is to obtain decision support that is to be utilized
in the choice of the strategy to be followed. In a decision-theoretic study, a decision is
considered as a choice between two or more alternative measures. Generally, rational
decision-makers choose the alternative that maximizes the utility, determined on the
SWOT analysis of different PAYT concepts
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4. Data collection
Main tool for SWOT analysis was the Questionnaire Form (cf. Annex 1), which was
disseminated to individual citizens and stakeholders via electronic form (cf. Photo 1)
and was assessed to effectively micro-manage the specific needs and special
characteristics of the pilot implementation areas.
Out of the 1654 addressed individual citizens and stakeholders, responses were as
follow:
Answered
1457
Not answered
197
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Type of residence
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Figure 7: Are you familiar with the way municipal sanitation fees are charged? Do
you know how much approximately you pay for municipal sanitation and waste
handling fees?
Figure 7 illustrates that only 44% of the respondents are familiar with the way
municipal sanitation fees are charged. Most of respondents are not well informed for
the direct but also indirect methods of payment, instead of the Hellenic financial crisis
and the resulting austerity measures. Furthermore, Figure 7 illustrates that while some
of the respondents are familiar with the way municipal sanitation fees are charged,
they do not know (even approximately) how much they pay for municipal sanitation
and waste handling fees.
Question 3: For you, it is important
As illustrated to Figure 8, the biggest percentage of respondents appears to be
sensitized on recycling issues.
Specifically, the overwhelming majority of respondents are giving high priority in
separate treatment for each stream. This can be partially explained, because most of
the respondents are giving peculiar importance in citys sanitation (cf. Figure 7) and
thus in their personal hygiene.
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Figure 9 illustrates that 81% of the respondents take as criterion the volume (waste
bag is full) to take their waste out. On the other hand, only 31% of the respondents
believe that the biggest criterion to take their waste out is by weight (as waste bag gets
heavy).
Uniformity can be observed in the selection of the period (e.g. each day, every two
days, etc.) as a criterion to take their waste out.
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Figure 11: How much garbage do you take out each week?
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smaller. This can partially be explained because most of WEEE is bulkier and heavier,
and storage places hard to be found. Furthermore, in the category listed as other,
glass, plastic and paper are included.
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Figure 15 illustrates that only 14% of the respondents are practicing home
composting, which leaves a lot of margin for improvement.
Question 11: Do you have knowledge of the implementation of such systems
abroad?
Although the respondents are sensitive to ecological issues and seem to care about
sustainable development in general, Figure 16 indicates that there is insufficient
knowledge of the respondents regarding implementation of PAYT systems abroad.
Figure 16: Do you have knowledge of the implementation of such systems abroad?
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Question 12: Do you believe that by paying waste management fees according to
the waste quantities that you generate, you will reduce those quantities?
Figure 18: Do you believe that by paying waste management fees according to the
waste quantities that you generate, you will reduce those quantities?
Question 13: Do you believe that by paying waste management fees according to
the waste quantities you generate you will be able to monitor the fee you pay?
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Figure 19: Do you believe that by paying waste management fees according to the
waste quantities you generate you will be able to monitor the fee you pay?
Figure 19 illustrates that 80% of the respondents agree that by paying waste
management fees according to the waste quantities will be able to monitor the fee they
pay.
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opinion regarding the following 4 systems. Please rank them up from the easiest
for you to use down to the most difficult one
Figure 22: If one of the above mentioned systems was to be implemented in your
area, which one would you prefer?
SWOT analysis of different PAYT concepts
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5. Methodology
The methodology for SWOT analysis (Pesonen et al., 2001) that was adopted in the
present study included the following step:
a) Identification of relevant factors of the external and internal environments by a
baseline survey using an activity worksheet (see Table 1) and questionnaires
which were disseminated to individual citizens and stakeholders and were
assessed to effectively micro-manage the specific needs and special
characteristics of the pilot implementation areas (cf. Chapter 4).
Table 1: Activity worksheet for SWOT analysis.
Factors
Questions
Strengths
What are the advantages?
What can PAYT do as well?
What are the factors supporting PAYT?
Weaknesses
What could be improved?
What is not done properly?
What should be avoided?
What obstacles prevent progress?
Which elements need strengthening?
Where are the complaints coming from?
Are there any real weak links in the chain?
Opportunities
Where are the good chances facing the programme?
What are the interesting trends?
What benefits may occur?
What changes in usual practices and available technology on both a
broad and narrow scale may occur?
What changes in Government Policy related to Municipal Solid
Waste Management may be possible?
What changes in socio-economic patterns, PAYT practices, lifestyle, and economic standards of project beneficiaries may occur?
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Questions
Threats
What obstacles do PAYT face?
Are the required support and necessary facilities for PAYT
available?
Is the changing technology threatening PAYT?
Do the stakeholders show their interest and willingness for
supporting PAYT?
6. Results
SWOT analysis (cf. Table 2) was performed taking into consideration the encouraging
of community participation in PAYT concepts and, in particular, how such
participation by community, public and government sectors can be increased.
The results from the aforementioned SWOT analysis proved that a PAYT concept
provides a lot of strengths and opportunities, but may face critical risks. The rather
long list of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats is still to be confirmed
during the implementation of a PAYT scheme. Likewise, most of the mentioned
opportunities already presented in table 2 should be taken into account and utilised
during the PAYT pilot application in the municipality of Elefsina. Additional
parameters (like regional development policies and urban growth in relation to
increased recycling) need to be converted as competitive advantages through a
transparent and credible information process.
As far as the weaknesses and threats of PAYT concepts are concerned, some actions
can be proposed in order to resolve and mitigate them: Pilot application in the
municipality of Elefsina should be provided, in order to identify the reliability of the
proposed scheme and to also identify potential ways and methods of reducing the
investment and operation costs and even optimising the overall process. At the same
time, the Hellenic state should motivate municipalities and other stakeholders to
convince public to support PAYT schemes in general. Community awareness and
support is a key to the ultimate success of PAYT concepts. Without public support, a
PAYT scheme has fewer chances of being accepted. After all, the citizens make the
concept work by following the rules. Comments should be solicited from the public to
help identify misperceptions about the scheme and reasons for opposition, and to
inform scheme planners of current public opinion. Public meetings and forums are
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also important for providing an additional avenue for residents to voice their concerns
and raise issues.
External
Opportunities
Threats
Concluding, the final step in the process of building local support for unit-based
pricing is to address the public's concerns and misperceptions. Provide PAYT scheme
specifics and offer information on waste reduction and recycling. If residents believe
the pricing structure is arbitrary and are unaware of ways to reduce their costs, the
program is likely to fail.
7. Conclusions
It was confirmed that the SWOT analysis was an excellent tool to explore the
possibilities and ways for initiating and successfully implementing and monitoring a
SWOT analysis of different PAYT concepts
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PAYT scheme. In this investigation, the SWOT analysis looked at the success
potential of different scenarios through a systematic approach of introspection into
both positive and negative concerns of a PAYT concept through community
participation. The most appropriate PAYT scheme for Greece is the No1 Bin system,
in where each family should have its own locked bin, for which they will be solely
responsible.
It is difficult to say whether citizens with weight-based billing have disposed of waste
outside the ordinary collection system, or adapted their lifestyle so as to produce less
waste. Some of the observed differences might be explained by differences in ways of
measuring and reporting amounts of waste. The importance of reliable waste
generation and composition data in further research regarding the role of monetary
incentives in recycling should not be underestimated. Further development is required
to improve and standardize methods of measuring waste flows. Consistently
determined key indicators describing the local outcome of recycling efforts would
facilitate the evaluation of waste management policies.
Abbreviations
HHW
MSWM
WEEE
Bibliography
1. Bilitewski, B., 2008. From traditional to modern fee system. Waste
Management 28 (12), 27602766.
2. Bradshaw, J.M., Boose, J.H., 1990. Decision analysis techniques for
knowledge acquisition: combining information and preferences using Aquinas
and Axotl SWOT. International Journal of Man- Machine Studies 32, 121
186.
3. Dahlen, L., Vukicevic, S., Meijer, J.-E., Lagerkvist, A., 2007a. Comparison of
different collection systems for sorted household waste in Sweden. Waste
Management 27 (10), 12981305.
4. Mbande, C., 2003. Appropriate approach in measuring waste generation,
composition and density in developing areas. Journal of the South African
Institution of Civil Engineering 45 (3), 210.
5. Pesonen, M., Kurttila, M., Kangas, J., Kajanus, M., Heinonen, P., 2001.
Assessing the priorities using SWOT among resource management strategies
at the Finnish forest and park service. Forest Science 47 (4), 534541.
6. Schmoldt, D.L., Peterson, D., 2000. Analytical group decision making in
natural resources: methodology and application. Forest Science 46, 6275.
7. Srivastava, P.K., Kulshreshtha, K., Mohanty, C.S., Pushpangadan, P., Singh,
A., 2005. Stakeholder-based SWOT analysis for successful municipal solid
waste management in Lucknow, India. Waste Management 25, 531537.
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Annexes
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Citizen Info
Municipality
Date of interview
Telephone No.
Sex
Male:
<18-30:
Type of residence
11
Name of interviewer
Female:
31-45:
46-65:
>65:
Appartment:
Detached house:
We ask for the exact surface area. If they
refuse or dont know exactly, we ask for the
number of functional rooms and estimate the
area.
QUESTIONS
#
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
2
4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
5
5.1
5.2
5.3
6
Question
Priorities
How important is for you
Protecting the environment
City sanitation
Maintaining your way of life, regarding household waste
management
Reducing waste quantities
Are you familiar with the way municipal sanitation fees are
charged?
Do you know how much approximately you pay for municipal
sanitation and waste handling fees? (you can find it in your
energy service bill)
For you, it is important
Timely collection of household waste
Source separation of waste and separate treatment for each
stream (paper, plastic, glass, biowaste, metals, etc.)
Low charging for city sanitation services
Fair charging for city sanitation services, i.e. each citizen
should pay appropriately, according to the extent to which he
assists in proper waste management.
According to what criterion do you take your waste out?
Volume (waste bag is full)
Weight (waste bag gets heavy)
Periodically (e.g. each day, every two days, etc.)
Citizens approach to waste management
How important/effective do you believe it is;
Answer
1-5
NO
YES
Other
NO
YES
Other
Most/Least
important
Rank 1 - 3
Most least
important
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10
11
12
13
14
15
15.1
15.2
15.3
15.4
15.5
16
1 bag
2 bags
3 bags
.. bags
Always
or
Frequently
Rarely or never
I dont recycle
anything
WEEE
Batteries
Other
NO
YES
Other
NO
YES
NO
YES
Personal
experience
News bulletin
Friends
NO
YES
NO
YES
Other
Most/Least
importance
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16.1
16.2
16.3
16.4
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Difficulty factor
1 2 3 4
Difficulty factor
1 2 3 4
Difficulty factor
1 2 3 4
Difficulty factor
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
5. Leave everything
as it is.
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