Citation:
Garnett K, Cooper T, Heath M, Cartwright G. The expert-public interface in municipal waste management decision making: exploring opinions from stakeholder groups. Proceedings of the Creative Management: Gaining the Trust of People, Chartered Institution of Wastes Management 2008, Conference and Symposium on Waste Treatment Technologies, 10-13 June 2008, Paignton, Devon
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.