Measuring the efficiency of Spanish municipal refuse collection services

The aim of this article is to analyse the technical efficiency of the refuse collection services in 75 municipalities located in Catalonia, Spain, The analysis has been carried out using a great variety of techniques, both parametric and non-parametric. Although the results naturally differ according to the technique used, they nevertheless are consistent in ranking the units analysed Finally, bye have looked into the relation existing between efficiency and the public or private management of the service. The results; seem to support the idea that the framework for competition in which the sen,ice is provided could be more relevant than the private-public management dichotomy.