Public/Private Competition in Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Alternatives to Flow Control

Abstract

Profound changes are occurring in municipal solid waste management as a result of the 1994 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down solid waste flow control ordinances. Local governments have scrambled to find alternatives to flow control in the face of increasing competition from private sector waste management firms. This article details the case of the Southeastern Public Service Authority's efforts to develop feasible alternatives to flow control and strategies for dealing with private sector competition in solid waste collection and disposal. These strategies may serve as a useful model for municipal solid waste agencies in the post-Carbone era.

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