Author: Savitri Woelandari
Woelandari, Savitri, 2016 Who owns the waste? The implementation of Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) and waste pickers marginalisation in Indonesia, Flinders University, School of History and International Relations
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This study aims to bridge the gap between knowledge and policy at the nexus of
modernisation of solid waste management, ISWM, and waste picker wellbeing in
Indonesia. This research has been motivated by four research questions; (1) How is
the modern ISWM implemented in Indonesia? (2) To what extent does ISWM
unintentionally increase waste pickers’ vulnerability? (3) How is the waste pickers’
wellbeing perceived in Indonesia? (4) In what ways can waste pickers be included in
ISWM practice in Indonesia? In answering the research questions, this study reviews
the literature of ISWM as well as debates the issues at the practical level. First, it
examines informal economic and capability approaches as a theoretical basis in
determining that waste pickers are part of the poor in Indonesian society. The
scholarly articles, government reports, grey literatures from national and
international development organisations and newspaper articles, demonstrating the
link between ISWM and waste picker wellbeing, have been used as the main sources
of data and analysis. The findings of this thesis show ISWM appears to make a limited
contribution to waste management provision in Indonesia. In addition, the findings
show that ISWM goes beyond matters of waste management, as its systems rely on
modern technology and privatisation, causing negative impacts on the wellbeing of
waste pickers, the precursors of waste processing. Lastly, in accord with broader
literature, this thesis supports a scheme of waste picker integration as a potential
strategy to improve waste management provision and reduce poverty in Indonesia.
Keywords: Indonesia, modernisation,solid waste management, waste pickers,
Subject: International Relations thesis
Thesis type: Masters
Completed: 2016
School: School of History and International Relations
Supervisor: Dr. Priyambudi Sulistiyanto