On the economic performance of the waste sector. A literature review

In a context of increasing international concern about public cost savings, research interest in the waste sector has gradually emerged. The literature on waste cost and inefficiency, particularly the use of parametric and non-parametric methods has increased exponentially in the last years. This paper reviews the developments, themes, objectives, concerns and characteristics of this kind of research, by reviewing a comprehensive database consisting of more than 100 relevant papers on economic performance of the waste services were published since 1965. Based on the econometric and mathematical programming methods (cost and product ion frontiers) used so far, the paper identifies characteristics of the waste research community (such as the authors' case-studies, aims of research, methods adopted, among others). Finally, it also identifies the main targets in this research field, such as market structure, ownership, incentives (through regulation and legal mechanism) and performance assessment. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.