Customers' Preferences in Municipal Waste Services Procurement

Public procurement is continuing to evolve both conceptually and organizationally. That evolution accelerated since the 1990s as governments at all levels came under increasing pressures to “do more with less.” Indeed, all governmental entities of rich and poor countries are struggling in the face of: unrelenting budget constraints; government downsizing; public demand for increased transparency in public procurement; and greater concerns about efficiency, fairness, and equity. In addition, public procurement professionals have faced a constantly changing environment typified by rapidly emerging technologies, increasing product choice, environmental concerns, and the complexities of international and regional trading agreements. Further, policy makers have increasingly used public procurement as a tool to achieve socioeconomic goals.