Towards Inclusive Waste Management in Marginalized Urban Areas: An Expert-Guided Framework and Its Pilot in Reșița, Romania

Cristina Iacoboaea, Andrei Damian (), Ioana Nenciu, Mihaela Aldea, Oana Luca, Mihai Șercăianu, Ancuța Neagu and Emanuel Răuță
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Cristina Iacoboaea: Faculty of Civil, Industrial and Agricultural Engineering, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 București, Romania
Andrei Damian: Faculty of Building Services, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 București, Romania
Ioana Nenciu: Faculty of Civil, Industrial and Agricultural Engineering, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 București, Romania
Mihaela Aldea: Faculty of Civil, Industrial and Agricultural Engineering, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 București, Romania
Oana Luca: Faculty of Civil, Industrial and Agricultural Engineering, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 București, Romania
Mihai Șercăianu: Faculty of Civil, Industrial and Agricultural Engineering, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 București, Romania
Ancuța Neagu: The Faculties and the Research, Development and Innovation Management Center, Technical University of Civil Engineering, 020396 București, Romania
Emanuel Răuță: Department of International Relations and European Integration, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, 030167 București, Romania

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-26

Abstract: This paper presents a structured, expert-informed framework for inclusive waste management in marginalized urban areas (MUAs), addressing critical challenges at the intersection of environmental governance, infrastructure inequality, and social exclusion. The framework was developed through extensive consultations with 37 international experts and tested through a deployment plan piloted in Reșița, Romania. The framework is adaptable to site-specific realities and is intended to evolve annually based on monitoring and feedback. With a strong focus on community engagement, institutional coordination, and policy alignment, the framework lays out an incremental implementation path. The Reșița pilot demonstrates how targeted, participatory actions—ranging from stakeholder mobilization and tailored education to infrastructure enhancements and policy reforms—can drive sustainable improvements in waste management and civic inclusion. This study contributes to the literature on environmental justice and urban sustainability by providing a dynamic, scalable model that can be customized to diverse socio-spatial contexts.

Keywords: marginalized urban areas; waste management; informal settlements; environmental health; sustainable urban development; community engagement; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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