Community-based waste management in Pincara Village, Pinrang Regency, South Sulawesi, continues to face major challenges due to limited infrastructure and low levels of public participation, according to a study conducted by Muhammad Nur from Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidenreng Rappang. Published in 2026 in the International Journal of Integrated Science and Technology (IJIST), the study analyzes the implementation of participatory waste management policies using the policy implementation framework developed by Merilee S. Grindle.
The research highlights the growing waste crisis in Indonesia as population growth continues to outpace the country’s environmental management capacity. Data from Indonesia’s National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN) shows that national waste generation reached 34.09 million tons in 2024, yet only around 32.58 percent was properly managed. Most waste still ends up in open dumping sites, contributing to soil and water pollution.
According to the study, the Indonesian government already has a relatively strong legal framework for waste management through Law No. 18 of 2008 and Pinrang Regency Regulation No. 7 of 2013, both of which emphasize integrated waste management and active public participation. However, implementation at the village level remains hindered by technical and social barriers.
Pincara Village was identified as a clear example of the gap between policy design and field reality. Waste management practices in the village remain highly conventional and poorly organized. Researchers observed waste scattered along roadsides and vacant land due to the absence of temporary waste disposal sites (TPS) and reliable waste transportation services.
The study employed a descriptive qualitative method involving in-depth interviews, field observations, and documentation analysis. Data were processed using NVivo 12 Plus software to map the supporting and inhibiting factors affecting waste management policy implementation in the village.
The findings revealed a major imbalance between supporting and inhibiting factors in local waste management governance. Based on the NVivo visualization presented on page 6, inhibiting factors dominated the analysis at 27 percent, while supporting factors accounted for only 2 percent.
The study identified several major obstacles, including:
- the absence of temporary disposal facilities and waste transportation vehicles,
- limited village budget allocation,
- low collective environmental awareness,
- and the persistence of traditional waste-burning practices.
Researchers found that residents continue to rely on open waste burning because it is considered the fastest and cheapest disposal method in the absence of organized waste services. This situation weakens public service quality and gradually reduces public trust in village government programs.
The social context analysis presented on page 7 revealed that socio-cultural factors play a dominant role in determining the effectiveness of environmental programs. Although many residents understand the health risks associated with unmanaged waste, their behavior remains strongly shaped by long-standing habits and the lack of proper waste management facilities.
The study also found that community participation remains reactive and heavily dependent on village leaders and local authorities. Programs such as “Clean Friday” activities and collective clean-up campaigns are typically implemented through direct mobilization by village officials rather than through internally driven environmental awareness among residents.
In the community participation analysis on page 8, researchers concluded that participation levels remain at a functional stage. Most residents simply follow top-down instructions without being actively involved in designing or managing waste systems themselves. This condition makes public participation fragile and difficult to sustain once government supervision weakens.
According to Muhammad Nur, the failure of waste management policy implementation in Pincara Village is not caused by community resistance, but rather by weak technical and social support systems. The researcher argues that behavioral change cannot rely solely on administrative regulations, but must also be built through persuasive approaches that connect environmental management with local cultural values and collective village identity.
The study recommends that village authorities strengthen public service infrastructure by providing temporary disposal facilities, waste transportation systems, and more organized waste management mechanisms. Researchers also emphasize the importance of culturally based public communication strategies to encourage more autonomous and sustainable community participation.
The findings are considered highly relevant for many rural communities across Indonesia facing similar waste management problems. The study concludes that successful environmental policy implementation depends not only on regulations, but also on infrastructure quality, public service effectiveness, and active community engagement.
Author Profile
- Muhammad Nur - Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidenreng Rappang
Research Source
Nur, M. (2026). An Analysis of Participatory Waste Management Implementation Through the Lens of Merilee S. Grindle. International Journal of Integrated Science and Technology (IJIST), Vol. 4 No. 4, 264–275.
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