Community participation in urban waste management

Abstract

Surabaya, one of Indonesia's largest cities, faces a significant problem related to the increasing
volume of waste. Although there have been efforts from the city government through waste
management initiatives and waste-to-energy processing technology, the waste problem still
needs to be fully resolved. Community participation is considered an essential factor in the
success of sustainable waste management. A qualitative descriptive method describes
community participation in urban waste management in Surabaya. Data were collected
through in-depth interviews, direct observation, and documentation of related policies. The
study subjects included residents involved in the waste management program and
government and private sector parties collaborating in waste management. The study results
indicate that community participation through the Waste Bank program and other social
innovations significantly reduces Surabaya's waste management burden. However, the
varying levels of community participation are a challenge in themselves. Policies supported
by the government and social innovations have been shown to increase the effectiveness of
waste management but still require increased active participation and public awareness. A
more effective and environmentally friendly waste management system can be created with
a collaborative approach involving all parties.