Abstract

PENA-CASTANON, Ailed Zahi et al. Factors Influencing the Willingness to Pay for Household Composting. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2025, vol.43, e2286.  Epub Apr 09, 2026. ISSN 2395-8030.  https://doi.org/10.28940/terralatinoamericana.v43i.2286.

The management of household organic waste (HOW) remains a persistent challenge in most developing countries, primarily due to the lack of adequate infrastructure for its recovery. Household composting represents an effective strategy for organic waste management, as it enables the production of a value-added product (compost) with agronomic potential and reduces the overall volume of waste. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing willingness to pay (WTP) for the recovery of household organic waste through composting, specifically: (1) WTP for compost derived from HOW, (2) WTP for a service that produces compost from HOW, and (3) willingness to sell HOW by the kilogram generated at the household level. The contingent valuation method was applied to a sample of 382 households in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The influencing factors were identified using a binary logistic regression model. The results indicated that occupation, age, household size, and agreement with contributing to environmental protection through the purchase of products manufactured via recycling processes, even when priced higher, were significant explanatory variables.

Keywords : economics; recycling; urban solid waste; sustainability; contingent valuation.

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