Description

HHWASTECOLLECT reports where the household collects trash or garbage before the trash is disposed of--for example, in a covered trash can versus a plastic bag. Some households reported throwing garbage into the street or surrounding land immediately, rather than storing household waste for collection later.

The information in HHWASTECOLLECT is taken from the household record and applies to regular household residents, not temporary visitors. Researchers may wish to exclude visitors using the RESIDENT variable (with visitors coded "2") when women, children, or births are the unit of analysis, and using the HHRESIDENT variable when household members are the unit of analysis.

Comparability

Along with universe differences. HHWASTECOLLECT varies across samples in the number of response categories. To maximize comparability, IPUMS-DHS uses composite coding for HHWASTECOLLECT. For example, storage options other than a covered or uncovered trash can or plastic bag are grouped into an "Other" category with a common first digit of "3"; specific "other" choices are identified in the second digit (e.g., "old newspapers" with code "31").

Comparability - Standard DHS

HHWASTECOLLECT is a country-specific variable not included in the standard DHS household questionnaire.

Universe