Collaborative process design for waste management: co-constructing strategies with stakeholders

Abstract

Abstract Waste management is currently facing multiple challenges worldwide. The population growth in urban areas and related environmental concerns have increased the need to promote urban sustainability, namely where urban waste is a challenge. Thus, research on efficient waste management to reduce resources overload and to develop more sustainable production and consumption is key. Having this in mind, modern society is now seeking for an active voice and to be part of the decision-making processes that directly affect citizens. Citizens need to play an active role on decision-making to co-construct action guidelines, aiming a higher implementation success for an effective and inclusive management of urban waste. In this sense, UrbanWINS project was developed to promote co-construction and implementation of pilot actions involving citizens. In this paper the authors described the framework developed, and reflect critically on the results achieved.