Sustainable waste management strategy based on circular economy in Pangkalpinang City

Purpose: This study aims to formulate a circular economy-based waste management strategy to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Pangkalpinang City. Research Methodology: This research employs a descriptive quantitative approach using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). It involves 15 stakeholders from the Pentahelix sectors (government, business actors, academics, community organizations, and media) to evaluate five criteria—government policy, infrastructure, community participation, recycling technology, and economic impact—as well as five strategic alternatives: enhancing recycling facilities, environmental education, strengthening regulations, implementing automation technology, and providing economic incentives. Results: The study findings indicate that strengthening government regulations (weight: 1.469) emerges as the highest priority, signifying that regulatory reinforcement is considered the cornerstone of an effective and sustainable waste management system. Enhancing recycling facilities (weight: 0.901) and implementing automation technology (weight: 0.899) follow closely, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure and technological advancements. Community participation is identified as the most influential criterion in the successful implementation of the strategy (27.01%), underscoring the crucial role of public engagement in waste sorting and recycling programs. This study highlights that government efforts to strengthen regulations and policies should effectively drive active community participation in waste management toward a circular economy. Limitations: This study is limited to waste management within the administrative area of Pangkalpinang City. Recommendations: The findings provide practical recommendations for policymakers in designing and implementing more effective policies. This study advocates for multi-sectoral collaboration to comprehensively address waste management challenges in Pangkalpinang City, thereby supporting more sustainable urban development and delivering greater environmental, social, and economic benefits.