A combined approach to improve municipal solid waste management in upper-middle-income countries: the case of Sabana Centro, Colombia

In developing countries, the lack of specifc knowledge of the local context and complex interactions among variables infuence efective solid waste management. As a result, the formulation of efective strategies to improve waste management
is still a challenge. This study draws on the principle that an adequate formulation of recommendations can be achieved
through deep knowledge of the context of implementation, specifc for each country. This research designs and applies a novel
impact analysis combined with participatory workshops to formulate recommendations to enhance municipal solid waste
management. The approach includes four components: (i) a systematic literature review to identify the factors that afect
municipal solid waste management in upper-middle-income countries; (ii) participatory workshops to collect information
directly from relevant stakeholders; (iii) an impact matrix to systematize valuable information obtained from (i) and (ii),
and (iv) an impact analysis to classify the obtained information and develop recommendations to improve municipal solid
waste management. The combined approach can be applied to upper-middle-income countries. This was exemplifed using
a region in Colombia (Sabana Centro), which is composed by 11 municipalities, as a case study. Key recommendations
to improve sustainable waste management in Sabana Centro emerged from this study, i.e., the need for multiple funding
schemes and new public–private partnerships, the promotion of waste treatment technologies, the encouragement of public
involvement in source separation activities, and the alignment of local waste management plans in Sabana Centro and with
the national waste management policy