The evolving roles of actors in sustainability experiments: Evidence from community waste management in a Chinese city

Abstract

Engaging and coordinating interconnected actors is critical to the success of sustainability experiments. However, a notable gap remains in understanding how multiple actors shape and influence the design and outcome of sustainability experiments in China. This article illustrates how a community waste management experiment emerges and develops from a fluid network of activities carried out by diverse actors in Qingdao city, China. We find that NGOs, the city government, industries, and various alliances across them play a critical role in accumulating resources, enhancing networks through fulfilling actors' interests, sustaining coordination, and creating strong long-term linkages, albeit with evolving roles and changing relative importance. While effective solutions need to be context specific, taking into account the geographical, cultural, policy and regulatory environment, our study epitomizes a possible pathway for transforming community waste management in Chinese cities facing common challenges in the backdrop of largely top-down governance and minimal public participation.