Public and private sector actors in solid waste management
Both public and private sectors are active in handling SWM in developing countries. Actors from each sector are presented below in view of their particular advantages and constraints. Public sector agencies in SWM generally mean municipalities or city corporations. They operate under certain inherent limitations. For instance, rigid laws, under which they must work, make it difficult to bring change to operational matters. Moreover, since much of the work such as street sweeping, loading and unloading waste and drain cleaning are done manually, the public
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sector must employ a large number of people. Consequently, labour unions often wield considerable influence over the whole organisation. This sector also suffers from low productivity of staff, inadequate supervision and unsatisfactory equipment. Politicians, who find the SWM service an important instrument to retain patronage and popularity, may exert influence on the management also.