Market survey of solid waste management, Port-au Prince

The daily production of solid wastes in Port-au-Prince is estimated at 1,152 tons. However, the capacity of Service Metropolitan de Collecte des Residus Solides (SMCRS), the government organization responsible for collecting these wastes, is less than one-quarter of this total. Only a small volume of waste is being transported outside the city, while the rest accumulates visibly every day. Survey results show that people (households, businesses, and industry) are willing to pay for waste services and that these services can be profitably provided by the private sector in all zones of the city. Currently, there are only a few formal private sector waste collectors with trucks, and they expressed a great interest in expanded opportunities. In the informal waste collection sector, people with wheelbarrows serve about 20% of households and 7% of businesses. The survey also found that the potential market for compost is about 50 cubic meters a day. Although the market price of compost is probably less than the estimated production costs, the benefits in reducing landfill volume within the city would be significant. Finally, the report suggests a management structure for a privatized waste management entity.