The governance mechanism of household waste sorting in China: insights from residential communities in Yuelu, Changsha

Abstract Waste sorting mechanisms in residential communities play a key role in informing a sustainable and collaborative governance framework for household waste management. To investigate waste sorting practices in Changsha, one of the major cities in China, a questionnaire survey was conducted which revealed a potential collaborative link between community residents and property management companies: residents who were satisfied with management measures by their property companies had a higher willingness to participate in waste sorting and join rewarding/charging schemes (N = 437 valid responses). Semi-structured interviews, however, indicated that there was a lack of effective cooperation from planning to implementation of waste sorting mechanisms among residents, property companies and the government. Execution obstacles, the hierarchy between different stakeholders, and challenges in cooperation systems were the key factors hindering the promotion of waste sorting. This study therefore calls for a co-governance network engaging different stakeholders to establish their common interest, develop infrastructure, accrue social capital as led by motivated residents, and ultimately increase the effectiveness of household waste sorting policy at the community and individual levels.