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ESTIMATING EXTERNAL COSTS OF MUNICIPAL LANDFILL SITING THROUGH CONTINGENT VALUATION ANALYSIS: A CASE STUDY
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Abstract
Much of the solid waste stream in the United States is generated by metropolitan areas, while associated landfills are often located in adjacent rural communities. Landfill disposal of municipal solid waste often creates external costs to nearby residents. Contingent valuation was used to estimate external costs of siting a landfill in the Carter community of Knox County, Tennessee. Estimates of annual external costs were 227perhousehold.Householdincome,size,yearsinthecommunity,anddistancefromtheproposedlandfillandtherespondent′seducation,sex,andperceptionofhealthriskswereimportantindeterminingahousehold′swillingnesstopaytoavoidhavingalandfillintheCartercommunity.Also,householdswhosedrinkingwatersupplieswereatriskofcontaminationwerewillingtopay141 more than those who used piped city water or bottled water.Public Economics,