Community-based waste management strategies and their impact on urban sustainability through citizen participation and local government collaboration

Urban solid waste management is a critical challenge in low- and middle-income nations affecting urban sustainability. This research examines community-based waste management strategies and their contribution to urban sustainability through citizen participation and local government collaboration. Using comparative case studies across different geographical locations, the study identifies effective integration models. Key findings reveal that sustainable waste management systems require comprehensive approaches involving policy frameworks, institutional structures, economic instruments, social acceptance mechanisms, and technical infrastructure. Citizen participation significantly enhances waste reduction, recycling effectiveness, and system performance. Local government collaboration proves essential in creating enabling conditions through appropriate legislation, resource deployment, and coordination systems. Community-based organizations demonstrate considerable capacity to bridge gaps between informal waste sectors and formal municipal structures. The paper identifies critical success factors including effective leadership, transparent governance, diversified revenue sources, stakeholder engagement systems, and adaptive management. Findings indicate that integrated approaches addressing multiple barrier categories simultaneously prove more sustainable than single interventions.