Governance Models and Performance in Municipal Solid Waste Management: Evidence from Local Authorities

Abstract

This study evaluates governance models in the municipal solid waste sector in Portugal, examining downstream collection systems to determine which model(s) best align with European directives. Data was sourced from the Portuguese Regulatory Authority of Water and Waste Services and the National Statistics Institute. The analysis of the 278 municipalities in mainland Portugal reveals that inter-municipal associations display lower performance in selective collection and recycling rates, with governance model selection influenced by municipality size, financial autonomy, and staffing levels.

Keywords: Municipal solid waste, Governance models, Local authorities, Waste management systems, Environmental performance