Competency-Based Environmental Governance for Zero-Waste Communities Using a Novel ARUN Model

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a rapidly escalating global challenge, with Thailand exemplifying the persistence of a policy–practice gap in zero-waste transitions. Despite national initiatives such as Zero Waste Thailand, household segregation and recycling rates remain modest, particularly in semi-rural municipalities. This study addresses this gap by introducing and validating the ARUN Model, a competency-based governance framework for community-level zero-waste management. Using a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, quantitative data from 300 households were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and regression modeling, complemented by focus group interviews with local leaders to interpret behavioral mechanisms. The findings revealed that Responsibility and Nurturing competencies exert the strongest positive effects on household zero-waste behavior, confirming the model’s reliability and construct validity. These results empirically demonstrate how community competencies shape sustainable waste practices and bridge the structural–behavioral divide in waste governance. This research provides the first empirical validation of a competency-based governance framework in a semi-rural Thai context, extending beyond participatory and capacity-based models. By integrating statistical rigor with community insight, the ARUN Model advances theoretical and practical understanding of competency-driven sustainability transitions. This study provides actionable insights for policymakers and supports the achievement of SDGs 11, 12, and 13, offering a locally rooted yet globally relevant pathway toward circular economy governance.