NIMBY or NIABY: a Logit Model of Opposition to Solid-waste-disposal Facility Siting

A logit model of public opposition to solid-waste facility siting is constructed. Data are collected from in-person surveys regarding attitudes toward four different types of facilities—waste-to-energy plants, recycling centers, transfer station and ash landfills. The model quantifies the inverse relationship between distance and opposition to siting, a finding that would be expected under a self-interest model of attitudes. However, the data also indicate a significant percentage of respondents who oppose siting over the range of distances studied, up to 50 miles. Furthermore, our data indicate the effect of such variables as perception of need and distributional equity on siting attitudes. Attitude toward need is found to have as great an effect as distance on siting preferences for waste-to-energy plants. This result suggests siting policy should include an understanding of factors leading to the formation of perception of need rather than focusing strictly on compensation and risk mitigation as policy instruments.