Case Study 3: Local Waste Management in the Local Government Sector

Introduction:Public service provision is one of the keys to reducing inequalities in the utilization of dental services. Given the increase in the aging population, there should be a focus on older adults’ oral health. However, this is often overlooked.Objectives:This study investigates the effectiveness of public services in reducing income-related inequalities in dental service utilization among older South Australians.Methods:A multiple counterfactual mediation analysis using the ratio of mediator probability weighting approach was used to explore the proposed mediation mechanism using a South Australian population of older adults (≥65 y). The exposure variable in the analysis was income, and the mediators were concession cards and the last dental sector (public or private). The outcome variable was the time of last dental visit.Results:Half of the older adults with high income (≥$40,000) owned a concession card, and 10% of those who attended public dental services belonged to this group. Interestingly, only 16.3% of the study participants had visited the public dental sector at their last dental appointment. Results showed a negligible indirect effect (odds ratio [OR], 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85–1.05) and a significant direct effect (OR, 3.09; 95% CI, 2.24–4.87). By changing the potential outcome distributions to the counterfactual exposure distributions and taking the mediators’ distribution as a counterfactual exposure distribution, the odds of dental visits occurring before the past 12 mo approximately tripled for low-income compared to high-income individuals.Conclusion:Income inequalities were associated with relatively delayed dental visits in older South Australians, and provision of public services could not improve this pattern. This might happen due to inequitable access to concession cards and public services. A review of policies is required, including addressing income inequalities and implementing short-term approaches to improve service utilization patterns in older South Australians.Knowledge Transfer Statement:The findings of this study can enable policymakers for informed decision-making about the provision of public dental services for older Australians. This study emphasizes the importance of reviewing the current public dental services and subsidies and implementing short-term approaches to reduce income inequalities for older Australians.

Sustainable development requires the intervention of public authorities in areas where market mechanisms do not guarantee the proper allocation of goods. Some of these goods include public services such as local collective transport and municipal waste management. In many countries, the process of remunicipalizing these service provisions is underway and, in the modern model used in providing these services, municipally owned corporations (MOCs) play a special role. The specific nature of these companies (i.e., the duality of their objectives and that they are required to run classic economic calculations while they are assessed in terms of the quality of their services) encouraged the authors to formulate the primary goal of the study, which was to assess the link between the financial and operational efficiency of MOCs and the quality of their services. The present study’s authors developed a method for measuring the financial and operational efficiency of MOCs. In addition, a set of standards for assessing the quality of public service provision were defined, and opinion surveys were carried out to evaluate them. Subsequently, multi-criteria rankings of the efficiency and quality of services of the MOCs tested were drawn up using a synthetic variable based on the zero unitarization method (ZUM). A correlation of the analyzed variables was examined (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient) and simple line regression models were built. Our research showed that analyses of MOCs, when limited to their financial and operational aspects, are incomplete. According to the empirical analysis carried out, the financial and operational efficiency of MOCs does not translate to the quality of their services. Therefore, we believe that, in assessing the activities of MOCs, it is necessary to take into account criteria that measure the quality of meeting the needs of the local community in addition to financial criteria.

Local waste management constraints and waste administrators in China

Current considerations for the provision of public services must include how to respond effectively to the principal challenges of the twenty-first century. Many of these challenges will emanate from changing demographics that are impacting the demand for and the delivery and provision of public goods and services. For instance, the U.S. Census Bureau (2000) notes that Hispanics are officially the largest minority group in the United States; African-Americans are the second. There are also increasing numbers of individuals of other nationalities who represent a mosaic of colors, languages, cultural values, and ethnic traditions. This situation will pose tremendous challenges that require the creation of a diverse and more efficient public service workforce. Some of the challenges that changing demographics will pose are discussed in the Workforce 2000 report published by the Hudson Institute (Johnston and Packer 1987). The report indicated that there would be major changes in the workforce by the twenty-first century. For example, 84 percent of new entrants into the workforce would be women and men of color, white women, and foreign nationals. Workforce 2020, the sequel to Workforce 2000, further substantiates the changing demographics of the American workforce (Judy and D’Amico 1997). In a subsequent report, Futurework: Trends and Challenges for Work in the 21st Century, the U.S. Department of Labor reinforces the Hudson Institute’s predictions for a changing workforce. This report states:These workplace changes will affect employees’ expectations about the implied contract between employees and employer, the numbers of dual career and nontraditional families, and the overall diversity of the workforce.

Editor's note

Purpose This study aims to explore how digital platforms (DPs) contribute to value co-creation in municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems. Design/methodology/approach The present paper conducts an explorative analysis using single case study methodology. The case in question involves a DPs operating in Italy. Findings Empirical analysis shows that DPs help engage citizens in MSW and reduce the fragmentation in waste management systems by fulfilling a brokerage role that connects citizens, municipalities and waste management companies. The development of bidirectional knowledge and resource flow among actors contributes to better waste recycling processes, as well as fosters economic, environmental and social value co-creation in a complex public service. Research limitations/implications This research is limited to a single case study within the Italian context, which may influence the generalizability of the findings. Future research could expand the scope to include multiple case studies across different geographical regions. Practical implications For practitioners and policymakers, this paper underscores the strategic benefits of adopting DPs in MSW management systems and thereby improving public service delivery. Social implications The case analysis highlights that DPs can assist public actors in achieving numerous sustainable development goals by enhancing recycling rates and activating learning mechanisms among citizens. Originality/value This study contributes to literature by connecting different fields of research (i.e. waste management and public management) and using network theory to show how DPs can contribute to the economic, environmental and social sustainability of MSW while generating relevant benefits for the actors involved.

Arguments about waste management in Ireland are so deeply contested that they have been conceptualised as cultural wars. Key arguments between the warring factions have revolved around what kind of processes will provide a sustainable waste management strategy and at what scale the conflicts over waste should be resolved. To date much of the research into waste management has been fixated on technical issues, institutional arrangements and the top end of governance structures as significant sites for negotiation about waste. Attention to wider publics in these waste wars has been confined to a surface examination of NIMBYism and the State‐based development of information‐based awareness campaigns. It is proposed in this paper that in order to approach the strong demands of sustainable waste management through multilevel governance in Ireland, as stipulated by EU institutions, a more serious consideration of the role of publics in waste management needs to be undertaken.

Healthcare services are produced jointly by public and private service providers. Simultaneously they are each others’ competitors, thus operating in a co-opetition setting. Co-operation enables producing healthcare services efficiently. However, the public service providers have to operate on budget funds providing services to everyone, while private service providers skim the shared patient flow to make their own processes leaner and remunerative. Because both public and private service providers want to get the most profitable and medically interesting cases they all try to offload the low-ranking and non-profitable cases to other service providers’ patient queues. This phenomenon is called negative competition. The paper investigates how a public-private co-opetition setting steers the patient flow and changes the production of healthcare services. The paper is based on a comprehensive case study conducted in a healthcare co-opetition network. The outcome is an analysis on how producing healthcare services by a public-private c-oopetition setting affects the efficiency and productivity of the healthcare system.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management Systems are constantly changing and innovating around the world. Thus, this work aimed to develop a methodology that allows identifying and understanding the main drivers, barriers and possible pathways for innovative waste management that accelerate the urban sustainability transition and how the political, social and institutional factors can impact operational, economic and environmental indicators in a municipality. The work was developed through a case study in the city of São Paulo (Brazil). It made it possible to identify the main actors involved in the processes of elaboration and conduct of public waste management policies, as well as operational impacts (97.79% of waste sent landfill), economic (US$126,51/ton.msw) and environmental (370.06 kg CO2eq/ton.msw), contributing to the definition of criteria for the construction of Integrated Solid Waste Management methodology. The results also made it possible to highlight guidelines and practices for the improvement of MSW public policies.

The purpose of this article is to examine the approach to waste management of local authorities in England, to investigate their strategic objectives, and to ascertain to what extent sustainability and circular economy practices are in evidence in this context. A qualitative, inductive research method is used, based on an examination of secondary documentation in three local authorities in England in Birmingham, Bristol and Newcastle upon Tyne. The findings reveal considerable common ground within the three authorities – the importance of consumption across society in contributing to the generation of waste, the need for behavioural change, a focus on reducing waste (particularly food waste), maximising recycling and re-use, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and actively involving the local community and businesses. The case studies also evidence clear support for moving towards a more circular economy, but a number of key challenges were identified whilst initiatives to increase “waste to energy” face a number of potential hurdles. These include the generation of pollution and particulates by waste to energy plants, the destruction of useful materials, and the potential to disincentivize more sustainable waste management solutions. The article makes a small contribution to an existing gap in the academic literature and it is hoped these cases may act as a template for other research studies that could provide comparisons and contrasts in other local authority contexts.

Waste management has become a critical issue across the globe, especially in the metropolitan regions. This paper is focusing on the potential for organic waste utilization and management through urban agriculture in different countries, using the Netherlands as a case study. Furthermore, the difficulties and/or risks of utilizing organic waste through urban agriculture is described. Waste management hierarchy shows the invention, such that in the conventional, there is more of disposal of waste and less of waste reduction. However, the new proposal is to have more reduction of waste and less of waste disposal. This is where urban agriculture comes in through the re-use and recycling of waste, giving room for the opportunity of better waste management though urban agriculture. The benefits or opportunities of utilizing organic waste through urban agriculture were explained with the reference from relevant literature. The results of the study done by researchers in the Hague Municipality, Netherlands have been used to provide a picture of current and potential role of urban agriculture in managing organic waste. Key words: Agriculture, management, organic, urban and waste

Public goods and services administration represents an important tool supporting functioning of the state. Provision of public goods and services is closely related to the necessity to ensure relevant sources and setting the appropriate distribution channels, what in fact means, finding the suitable provider. Production of public goods can be provided by both sectors, private or public. If a public entity produces a public good, it is possible to talk about in-house production. In the opposite situation, when external private entity produces a public good, it is possible to talk about out-house production. This contribution is focused on the issue of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects as one of the out-house production variants. The aim of the contribution is to compare the availability and complexity of information about the given projects for potential contractors in the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic (Slovakia). To be able to make this comparison, authors of the article conducted the qualitative research. Used method was document and text analysis. To identify the relevant literary sources, systematic literature review followed by the traditional literature review, were used. Authors expected that there will be solid database of information available to the potential conductors of PPP projects. Also the way of its presentation was expected to be thoughtful and complex. Provision of information and methodical support in specified area can influence the final willingness of both sides, contractors and contracting authorities, to enter this project focused on provision of public services, traditionally provided by the public sector, by the private sector. The contribution is finalized using the method of synthesis that enables the authors to describe the main differences in ways of PPP projects information presentation. It was found that currently provided information and methodical support in the area of PPP projects administered by the authorities on the central level in selected countries can be described as insufficient. This finding contradicts the original expectations of the authors.

The generation of waste in Ireland has increased greatly since the raid 1990's in line with a period of extremely rapid economic growth. While waste management policy subscribes to a notion of sustainability, it is not altogether clear if it is being achieved in practice. To assess for sustainability international trends suggest that the setting of objectives and the measurement of progress towards them might be determined through the use of indicators. Accordingly the central thrust of this article is to assemble a small set of indicators and examine how they might be used in an Irish context to determine progress towards sustainable waste management.

Background: This requires substantial support and resources in chemical waste management and recycling, such as automated technology, chemical data management systems, advanced materials, etc. The growing need for efficiency and sustainability in waste management systems is leading industries to adopt IoT-based applications in monitoring and optimizing chemical waste disposal and recycling systems. For instance, IoT-based techniques are adding real-time tracking, automated segregation, and predictive analytics, which can help make waste management much more efficient. Despite their benefits, myriad challenges remain to the adoption of IoT-enabled systems, including high implementation costs, regulatory inconsistencies, technical expertise gaps, and data security concerns. Tackling these issues is essential to improving waste management practices, ensuring compliance with regulations, and promoting environmental sustainability. Aim: The current paper investigates the trends, problems, and future directions in chemical waste management and recycling optimization with IoT-based approaches. It specifically explores the knowledge, level of use, and perceived effectiveness of IoT-based waste management systems, where it also aims to determine whether there are barriers and factors that influence the widespread implementation of IoT-based waste management systems. The findings of the study will inform the industries, policymakers, and the environmental agencies to encourage or accelerate the adoption of the IoT in waste management and propel the sustainable waste disposed of solutions. Methodology: Based on structured survey interviews with 110 respondents, including representatives from chemical industries, waste management companies, environmental non-government organizations, government agencies, and academic researchers. The study employed a cross-sectional mixed-methods design, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data for a comprehensive evaluation of IoT implementation in chemical waste management. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were used to assess awareness levels, adoption rates, challenges, and perceived benefits of IoT-assisted waste management. In order to position the findings in the context of existing literature, a systematic literature review was also conducted focusing on smart waste tracking, hazardous waste management, and IoT use cases for sustainability. Findings: The paper provides important insights to characterize the status of IoT-enabled waste management by finding out the awareness level about the IoT-based waste management along with its adoption barriers. While 58% of the respondents were aware of IoT-enabled waste tracking, only 30% had implemented IoT within their organizations. According to the report, regulatory compliance requirements (50%), cost efficiency (45%), and sustainability goals (40%) were the primary factors driving IoT adoption in waste management. The most important barriers identified were high implementation costs (50%), lack of technical expertise (40%), and concerns around data privacy and security (35%). Respondents believed that 55% of respondents said government incentives like grants and standard regulatory frameworks (48%) would greatly increase adoption rates. Conclusion: But to facilitate broader adoption, we need to solve for the cost, technical and regulatory challenges. The results underscore the role of tailored financial motivations, supportive government laws, and sectoraliszied training initiatives in adopting the use of IoT in waste management. Further work can address cost-benefit analysis, case studies in paradigm shift in implementing IoT-based systems and frameworks on secure, scalable and smart waste management. Transforming chemical waste management into a smart and eco-friendly system will require collaboration across sectors, between industries, policymakers, and technology providers

Environmental Waste Utilization score to monitor the performance of waste management systems: A novel indicator applied to case studies in Germany