Zero Waste - Governance

Governance

Re-shaping people’s resource use pattern is a challenge beyond the scope of piecemeal and reactive laws. Policy incrementalism reflects policymakers tendency to build on what already exists and is characterised by minimal disturbance of the current state. This cannot achieve the targets of Zero Waste at a national level. What is needed is a shift from government (formal organisations and procedures of the public sector) to governance (array of governmental and non-governmental institutions). The government alone does not have the cognitive breadth to determine how to reach the ultimate target of Zero Waste which requires the involvement of businesses, NGOs, the public and the state in governing. Governance is "ultimately concerned with creating the conditions for ordered rule and collective action" and to achieve Zero Waste, a departure from waste management based simply on waste disposal ideology is necessary. The role of the state is to act as central steering mechanism and governance networks that bring together government; public and market actors are viewed as important to achieve Zero Waste similar to many other environmental goals. The Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development emphasized these partnerships between different stakeholders in the environment and the establishment of Public-Private partnerships is seen as the best way to achieve sustainability.

An example of network governance approach can be seen in the UK under New Labour who proposed the establishment of regional groupings that brought together the key stakeholders in waste management (local authority representatives, waste industry, government offices etc.) on a voluntary basis. There is a lack of clear government policy on how to meet the targets for diversion from landfill which increases the scope at the regional and local level for governance networks. The overall goal is set by government but the route for how to achieve it is left open. Governance in waste management seeks to widen the range of stakeholders involved and improve co-ordination between them. This mobilizes a collective action which is essential to overcome potential conflicts when tackling a goal as visionary as Zero Waste.

The challenge of governance in waste management therefore is how to get collective action across the broad spectrum of stakeholders. Zero Waste is a strategy promoted by environmental NGOs but the waste industry is more in favour of the capital intensive option of energy from waste incineration. Research often highlights public support as the first requirement for success. In Taiwan, public opinion was essential in changing the attitude of business, who must transform their material use pattern to become more sustainable for Zero Waste to work,. The public were made aware of the importance of sustainability through communication with governmental and nongovernmental organisations illustrating the importance of networks. The latest development in Zero Waste is the city of Masdar in Abu Dhabi which promises to be a Zero Waste city. Innovation and technology is encouraged by government creating an innovation friendly environment without being prescriptive. To be a successful model of sustainable urban development it will also require the involvement and co-operation from all members of society emphasizing the importance of network governance.