The impact of population size and waste bin structure on the cost of municipal solid waste (MSW) management: Evidence from Sweden and Norway.

The growing amount of waste worldwide has led to policies requiring cost-effective waste management. Consequently, municipalities responsible for providing waste services are under greater pressure to do so efficiently for their residents. Using data from 225 Swedish and Norwegian municipalities, we investigate how the waste bin structure and population affect the cost of MSW management. Results indicate that 4-compartment bins are the most expensive (+13 %), while using the same bin types in detached and multi-family dwellings leads to coordination savings (−18 %). The cost-minimising population is slightly above 600,000 inhabitants, and the cost per inhabitant can be reduced by up to 30 % in several locations through collaborations with larger neighbours.

Söderberg, M., Sundriyal, V. K., & Gabrielsson, J. (2025). The impact of population size and waste bin structure on the cost of municipal solid waste (MSW) management: Evidence from Sweden and Norway.Waste Management, 206, 115047.