Urban Households' Attitude towards Flood Risk, and Waste Disposal: Evidence from Cotonou

Abstract

This study analyzes households’ attitude towards flood risk, and the disposal of both dry and liquid wastes in Cotonou city. Multinomial probit model was used for the analysis of the attitude towards flood risk using a sample of 150 households from flood-prone zones of Cotonou, while the attitudes towards dry and liquid wastes disposal were analyzed by applying binary logistic regressions on the 2011 Benin Living Standards Measurement data. The findings show that 55.3% of the households were willing to leave flood-prone zones. Factors identified as household’s flood risk taking behavior include duration of residence in the zone, number of children, perception on backfilling flood-prone zone with solid waste, and having residence in floodplains of Lake Nokoué/Lagoon of Cotonou. Pre-settlement information about the flood risk of the area, willingness to pay tax for settlement in the flood-prone area, and number of adults were found to decrease the flood risk taking. Household head age was found to have convex effect on flood risk aversion. The results suggest that the sex, age, education, and migration status of the household head were found to increase the odds of relying on vendors or making use of approved dump sites for waste disposal. Public policies should target among others, (i) building affordable housings outside Cotonou, as advocated in the urbanization plan of the country and propose to households that are living in flood-prone areas, (ii) reinforcing access to adequate education, and (iii) raising awareness on the harmful effects of improper management of waste.