Three components are needed to rectify a poor waste collection system: (i) infrastructure or equipment, (ii) good collection services, and (iii) adequate contribution by waste generators – in other words, households, institutions and businesses. Furthermore, in the economies where the EBRD invests, there is often no full ‘collection service coverage rate’, meaning that not all households have access to frequent waste collection services. Hence, typically, in addition to replacing worn-out collection infrastructure, cities also seek to extend collection services to the whole city.

Infrastructure investments (in other words, bins, containers, collection points, vehicles and perhaps transfer stations) and related maintenance will have to be well planned and financed, and cover collection systems for different waste streams. For instance, container-based ‘bring’ systems can be used for construction and demolition waste, whereas residential waste (kerbside) collection systems are feasible for municipal waste with clearly defined bin types, volumes, collection frequencies and so on. Adequate maintenance also includes cleaning, repair and replacement of broken equipment, for which responsibilities must be clearly defined.

A good collection service implies adequate coverage of all locations and adequate frequency and capacity as well as the provision of collection services in a predictable and resource-efficient manner.

Effective waste collection systems rely on sufficient contributions from households, institutions, businesses and industry. Different waste streams must be delivered as planned, placed in the right containers and bins, which must be made easily available and looked after. In order to ensure that residents and other stakeholders are committed and contribute to the collection process, effective information and attitude campaigns may be needed. Such campaigns can be pursued through a combination of different forms, but one effective way is to educate children through schools and kindergartens, who later ‘police’ their parents and carers.

Private collection companies contracted through international competitive tenders can provide useful expertise and cost-efficient waste collection solutions. Private contracts can also help introduce better contractual arrangements and help depoliticise and professionalise the collection services, with clearly defined rights, obligations, processes, performance targets and incentive-based revenues. By requiring private collection companies to undertake awareness and attitude campaigns, incentives are further aligned, given that successful attitude campaigns and increased buy-in from inhabitants will benefit the collection company. Some of the financing for vehicles and other equipment can also be provided by private collection companies, although this does not bring down the overall costs for the waste collection services. There may be benefits to splitting a city into more than one collection area or contract for comparative and competitive reasons. Private collection contracts should cover multiple years (five or more) in order for companies to be considered creditworthy and to benefit from their awareness and attitude campaigns.