Examining production of municipal solid waste for bulk pickup and median household income in Tucson, Arizona

Abstract

The relationship between socioeconomic factors like median household income and behavior tied to the production of bulk waste has important ramifications for improving municipal waste management systems. This study investigates this relationship among different neighborhoods in the city of Tucson, Arizona. Using direct observation methods in 18 neighborhoods of varying income levels within six waste management districts across the city, this study identifies the physical manifestation of the role household income plays in the production of bulk waste. Observation routes were designed in each of the 18 neighborhoods, keeping the number of parcels in each route constant for consistency. Observations recorded the amount of individual piles of trash placed on the side of the road for pickup, with a unit defined as a pile at least one square meter in size, no more than 10 cubic meters in volume, and at least three feet apart from other piles as defined by the city of Tucson. The study found that neighborhoods with a higher median household income produced more trash than those with lower income levels. This could be due to wealthier households having more disposable income that allows them to purchase more items that will eventually be discarded, that wealthier households move homes more frequently and thus need to discard furniture and appliances more frequently, or that wealthier households have more resources to undergo home renovations and therefore discard more bulk waste in the form of furniture, appliances, and building materials. Based on these results, practical applications of the data are discussed as they pertain to improving local waste management policies and strategies for waste reduction. Future studies should examine all 26 waste management districts and the types of waste produced.