Organization, capital, and human resource factors influencing waste collection efficiency in Mexico

• Published in: Utilities policy 2024-06, Vol.88, p.101747, Article 101747
• Main Authors: Salazar-Adams, Alejandro, Ramirez-Figueroa, Cecilia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bootstrap; Data envelopment analysis; Human resources; Mexico; Privatization
• ISSN: 0957-1787; 1878-4356
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2024.101747

The impact of organizational characteristics of waste collection services on efficiency was analyzed. The characteristics under scrutiny included the contractual status of personnel, the age and type of waste collection vehicles employed, and the management modality of the system. A dataset encompassing 1783 municipal waste collection systems in Mexico was analyzed utilizing double bootstrap data envelopment analysis. Findings suggest that the contractual status of personnel significantly influences efficiency, with systems characterized by greater employment flexibility having higher efficiency levels. Furthermore, the characteristics of the vehicles employed impact efficiency, with the utilization of compactor and newer vehicles displaying a positive correlation with efficiency. Additionally, the managerial modality emerged as a determinant factor in waste collection performance, with privately managed systems exhibiting superior efficiency compared to fully public systems or public-private partnerships. Conversely, waste collection systems operated by non-governmental organizations exhibited comparatively lower levels of efficiency. •Waste collection efficiency is positively correlated to employment flexibility.•Waste collection efficiency is affected by the characteristics of the vehicles used.•Fully private waste collection systems are more efficient than public and public-private systems.•Waste collection systems fully or partially operated by non-governmental organizations are less efficient than public ones.