[Choice experiment method and its application to solid waste management in Macao].

Economic valuation of environmental goods or services has been becoming a research frontier and hotspot of environmental economics in the world. Choice experiment (CE) is a relatively new method that can be used to value the economic benefits of environmental goods or services. This paper reports an attempt to apply the CE method in Macao that aimed to understand Macao residents' preferences for solid waste management programs. A random sample survey of 260 respondents in Macao was conducted during the summer in 2004. Survey data was analyzed using multinomial logit models. Results from 260 in-person interviews indicate that Macao residents preferred waste segregation and recycling at source and noise reduction during waste collection and transportation. The study concludes that CE is a reliable tool in the analysis of respondents' preferences for the development of suitable solid waste management programs in Macao.