The expert-public interface in municipal waste management decision making: exploring opinions from stakeholder groups

Abstract

Local authorities need to find more effective ways to engage communities because public participation in collection schemes and acceptance of municipal waste facilities are integral to delivering effective waste strategies. The technical expertise politicians relied on in the past, to produce cost-effective and environmentally sound solutions, no longer provides sufficient justification to approve waste facilities. A new conceptualization of the relationship between science and politics, whereby there is some balance in the use of expert and local knowledge, is required to legitimize waste policy decisions. This paper aims to develop a better understanding of what happens at the interface between ‘expert’ and ‘public’ in municipal waste management decision making. It establishes opinions on the extent to which public values and preferences may be considered in practice in order to avoid or resolve controversial issues by gaining public consent.