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Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) has been an increasing challenge for cities in China. Effective and sensible charging mechanism of municipal solid waste (MSW) needs to be designed to abate rapid generation of MSW from its source. This paper investigates four aspects related to public preference on MSW charging, including cleanliness, frequency, time, and cost. A case study was conducted in Harbin, which is a megacity in China and one of the first pilot cities for MSW classification. This study adopted stratified sampling approach in surveying Harbin residents, which generated a final sample of 280 residents for empirical investigation. Conjoint analysis was employed to analyze residents' preference for MSW charging. The results demonstrate that the preference varies with the level of income. High-income and middle-income residents are more favourable to cleanliness, while the low-income group is more concerned about the cost of MSWM. To a large extent, this difference may be related to differences in personal needs and consumption patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local protests against municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration have become intractable problems in metropolitan areas worldwide. Based on the theory of strategic action fields, we adopt a comprehensive perspective to understand how controversies surrounding MSW incineration exert influence over the dominant order within the field. Adopting a qualitative research method, we conducted field research in three Chinese cities where proposals for incineration plants have aroused disputes between different categories of actors. The collected empirical data consist of 42 semi-structured interviews and materials provided by interviewees. By examining the dynamic process of protests between challengers and incumbents, we found that skilled actors fight over a meso-level social order – the waste disposal industry and waste management policies – through competition and cooperation. We also found a mix of instrumental and existential motivations in their involvement in the conflict. Our findings deepens understanding of contentions regarding waste management, thereby enriching the existing literature. In a broader sense, our analysis contributes to the discussion of how actors occupying different positions compete for dominance in a specific field and can succeed, under certain circumstances, in shaping social action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]