ARBA MINCH, ETHIOPIDETERMINANTS OF WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR IMPROVED LIQIUD WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ARBAMINCH CITY: THECASE OF CONDOMINIUM HOUSES

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to identify determinants of willingness to pay for improved liquid waste management in Arba Minch condominium house. The study used primary sources of data that was collected by questionnaire and field observation while the secondary data were collected by using organization profile and non- published documents. The researcher used simple random sampling technique. The sample size for the study was 277 randomly selected households in Arbaminch Condominium Houses to determine thewillingness to pay of residents for improved liquid waste management, and suggests mechanisms for cost recovery. The method of data analysis that was used by the researcher was both descriptive and econometric analysis. The study used a probit regression model to answer the basic research questions and objectives. The results of the probit model revealed that households age, distance from septic tank, amount of waste water generated and employment negatively and significantly affect the willingness to pay of households while household income level, frequency of waste water disposal and easy access to truck positively and significantly affect the willingness to pay of households for improved liquid waste management. The estimated monthly mean willingness to pay of the household for the improved liquid waste management is 38.00 birr per month and the total willingness to pay (revenue)of the households in the study area is found to be 32110 birr per month. That means the annual willingness to pay per household is 456 birr while the total annual WTP of households in the study area is 385320 birr. Therefore, based on the key outputs of the present study, there is greater demand for improved liquid waste management practice in the study area and thus government has to work its best in improving the services and then collect the money from the households at least for cost recovery which is very important in a city where there is greater budget deficit