Household Solid Waste Eco-Efficiency in Slovak NUTS-3 Regions: A Two-Stage DEA Analysis

The study assesses the waste-related eco-efficiency across Slovakia’s eight regions at the NUTS-3 level. The study examines time trends and efficiency changes between 2018 and 2023. The Data Envelopment Analysis method is used to measure efficiency, specifically a model assuming variable returns to scale. Three specific models were created for different types of household solid waste. These efficiencies are then bias-corrected using a double-bootstrap approach and subjected to a closer analysis of the effects of selected environmental variables, including population density, median age, and the age dependency index. The results indicated a negative impact of a higher share of the economically inactive population on the efficiency of generating all types of household solid waste. In terms of population density, the effects differed, with statistical significance less pronounced. Median age, i.e., the population’s maturity, positively impacted household solid waste generation efficiency. The paper’s conclusions include recommendations for policies focused on regional disparities, age management, and support for the education of selected population groups. The results of this study can also help identify factors for training AI models for predictive waste management.