Efficiency and sustainability in municipal waste management: A comparative study of five rural municipalities in Slovakia

Waste at the crossroads: Progress and challenges in Ho Chi Minh City’s transition toward sustainable municipal waste management

The paper examines the relationship between municipal financial management practices (MFMPs) and environmental performance (EP) in South African municipalities (SAMs). The need for study is driven by prevailing EP challenges, as exhibited by poor waste management practices in the local municipalities (Bikam & Chakwizira, 2021). To achieve this objective, the study employed robust standard errors to analyse panel data collected by quantitative content analysis from online sources regarding thirty SAMs during the period spanning 2014 and 2023. The study found a positive, insignificant relationship between MFMPs and EP. The study’s findings have crucial implications for many stakeholders, including policymakers, the national government, and local municipalities, as the need to review and enforce compliance with the existing financial management framework remains pertinent to addressing environmental challenges. The study’s findings influence decisions on MFMPs, as a commitment to managing the ecological environment, which presents an additional dimension of addressing waste management challenges. Therefore, future research must aim to broaden this agenda, which remains imperative to promoting sustainable environmental management practices (EMPs) from a financial management perspective.

This paper examines whether municipal bond call decisions are influenced by electoral cycles. Using 562,204 bond-month observations from 513 U.S. cities from 2005 to 2021, matched with mayoral election data, I find that bond call probability declines significantly during election months. Contrary to expectations, the effect is concentrated in open-seat elections where the incumbent is not seeking re-election, rather than in incumbent re-election races. Call probability decreases by 1.2 to 2.7% points during open-seat election months—a 20% to 45 reduction relative to the baseline call rate—while incumbent re-election months show no significant change. These results are robust to the inclusion of city fixed effects, city-by-year fixed effects, and year-month fixed effects. The findings suggest that transition uncertainty or lame-duck dynamics, rather than incumbent strategic behavior, drive election-related disruptions in municipal debt management.

The municipal grievance systems have been found to have some difficulties in delayed response, manual verification and non-transparency which have impeded proper management of the infrastructure. Conventional channels are dependent on written descriptions and manual inspection, which make them ineffective and unstable in terms of decision-making. In order to eliminate these constraints, this study presents a Smart City Civic Intelligence and Resolution Management Platform that combines artificial intelligence with web-based processes. Constructed on the basis of Django, the system enables citizens to report complaints with an option to upload the images, which are processed with the help of YOLOv8 to identify the damage which is evident and is then used to classify the severity and estimate the cost of repair. Performance on testing shows that the prototype has acceptable levels of accuracy with inference time of between 1-3 seconds on each image, which illustrates that the system can help revolutionize the municipal complaint management system. The paper sets the stage of scalable smart city governance and the future goals encompass regression-based cost forecast, GIS amalgamation, and implementation of a mobile application.

Abstract Beer is the fifth most consumed beverage worldwide, and its production demands large volumes of water, generating 3–10 L of effluent per liter of beer produced. This wastewater often requires municipal management, representing high operational costs and environmental concerns, particularly for microbreweries with limited infrastructure. The use of microalgae in brewery effluent offers a sustainable alternative for nutrient recovery, biomass generation, and integration into circular bioeconomy strategies. This study evaluated the growth performance and biochemical composition of Chlorella fusca LEB 111 cultivated in brewery effluent under semicontinuous operation, aiming to reduce production costs while maintaining biomass quality. Cultures were grown in 1.8-L photobioreactors with effluent concentrations of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, compared to a BG-11 medium control. The 100% effluent assay achieved a biomass concentration of 0.77 g L⁻ 1 and productivity of 52.34 mg L⁻ 1 day⁻ 1 , with a balanced biochemical profile of 39.96% proteins, 31.64% carbohydrates, and 28.89% lipids. Notably, the highest protein content was obtained in EA75 during the first cycle (46.20%), the maximum carbohydrate accumulation occurred in EA75 during the second cycle (35.59%), and the highest lipid content was recorded in EA50 during the third cycle (40.61%). Cost analysis revealed a substantial reduction in biomass production expenses, from over €84 kg⁻ 1 in the control to €18 kg⁻ 1 in the undiluted effluent assay. These results advance knowledge on the adaptive biochemical responses of C. fusca under nutrient-limited wastewater conditions, providing a framework for sustainable algal cultivation and biomass valorization from nutrient-limited industrial effluents. Graphical Abstract

An equity focused policy pathway is articulated that translates recent evidence on older informal caregiving in Sweden into measures suitable for inclusion in the ongoing implementation of the revised Social Services Act, building on Kirvalidze et al. (2025 Scand J Public Health. Epub ahead of print 1 May). Narrative policy synthesis with targeted comparative analysis, integrating the nationally representative findings reported by Kirvalidze et al. with welfare regime theory and long-term care models from Japan, the Netherlands and Denmark, alongside European policy guidance. Proposals are mapped to existing Swedish institutions, including primary care, hospital discharge processes, municipal case management and national registers. No new empirical data were collected. The commentary presents a practical framework comprising legal recognition of informal caregiving, routine identification at primary care and hospital discharge followed by a brief municipal needs assessment and consented registry linkage, tiered entitlements aligned to verified caregiving intensity, gender-responsive safeguards including pension credits linked to intensity and duration and brief mental health screening with referral, and a concise outcomes framework using existing registers. A targeted rural delivery mechanism sets a measurable milestone of first respite within 30 days for high-intensity caregivers and is financed through state equalisation grants. Embedding identification within routine workflows, aligning supports with verified intensity and reporting simple public indicators can deliver measurable improvements without creating new structures. Phased implementation over 24 months with quarterly tracking provides a realistic route to recognise and resource informal caregiving, protect caregivers' health and wellbeing, and strengthen long-term care sustainability.

Abstract Wastewater purification from suspended and colloidal impurities remains a critical challenge for industrial and municipal water management. This study proposes a sustainable iron-based coagulant synthesized from foundry waste, enabling simultaneous wastewater treatment and industrial waste recycling. The magnetic fraction of foundry dust (Fe ≈ 47.7 wt%) was leached with HCl to produce an iron-containing coagulant, while the non-magnetic fraction was evaluated for ceramic applications. The obtained coagulant demonstrated high purification performance at an optimal dose of 37.5 mg/L, achieving > 95% removal of suspended solids within pH 5–7 across three types of model wastewater (clay 5 g/L, glaze 10 g/L, dairy 40 mL/L). Compared to commercial FeCl 3 , the experimental coagulant required up to 6–12 times lower dose to reach 97–98% clarification efficiency. This effect is attributed to the simultaneous presence of iron species and polysilicic flocculants formed during waste acid treatment. Additionally, leaching residues and the non-magnetic fraction were successfully incorporated (10–30 wt%) into artistic ceramics without compromising density or water absorption. The proposed approach demonstrates a dual environmental benefit – valorization of iron-rich industrial waste and reduced chemical consumption during coagulation – contributing to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

As waste formation rates rising and environmental sustainability becoming more and more important, the circular economy (CE) offers a revolutionary method to waste management, especially in developing countries. This study assesses waste management's role in the CE using bibliometrics of 148 articles published in developing countries between 2013 and 15 February 2024. Bibliometric data analysed using Scopus tools and VOSviewer and R Biblioshiny packages. The result show that the number of publications gradually increased during study periods. Findings also indicated that waste management, municipal waste management, recycling and sustainable development represent the current CE 'hotspots'. The conceptual analysis indicates strong linkage between CE, developing countries and sustainable development from key findings. A CE in waste management is a significant opportunity to reduce waste and promote environmental sustainability by implementing circular principles in developing countries. Subsequently, developing countries should benefit from CE practices through new economic opportunities, reducing environmental impact, emerging technology and improving resource efficiency. Likewise, this study provides insights into potential pathways for enhancing CE initiatives in waste management, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts, policy frameworks and community engagement.

Rationale of the Study - This research investigated the information and knowledge management challenges faced by two municipalities in Sweden during the procurement and monitoring processes related to children and young people placed in residential care facilities. Effective information and knowledge management are crucial to delivering high-quality care. Successful procurement and monitoring processes depend on effective management of information generated, utilised, repurposed, and disseminated to relevant stakeholders. Methodology - A case study approach was utilised, employing an interview guide designed to elicit insights into organisational structure, work processes, information governance, information systems, information security, e-government initiatives, collaboration, knowledge management, and the long-term preservation and reuse of information. Findings - The study uncovered a range of information needs and highlighted significant barriers to the dissemination of information and knowledge among stakeholders. These barriers adversely impacted both procurement processes and systematic follow-up concerning residential care for children and young people. Additionally, the findings revealed that existing municipal information management systems were insufficient for supporting the effective management of information critical to knowledge development. Implications - The absence of coordinated information and knowledge management adversely affects procurement and follow-up processes, thereby compromising the quality of care for children and young individuals. This has broader implications for all stakeholders, as inadequate information management can lead to poor decision-making. Originality - There is a significant gap in the literature regarding the role of information and knowledge management in follow-up processes for children and young people in care, particularly from an Information Science perspective. This deficiency underscores the originality and contribution of the present study to the field.

This article addresses the management of urban public transport in São Luís, considering its essential importance for the development and growth of a city. Given the importance of public transport for the population, especially for low-income individuals who depend on it as their only means of transportation, it is essential that the management of this sector offer minimum services that meet users' expectations. The objective of this study is to analyze the service provided at the integration terminals in São Luís, based on bibliographic and field research. The bibliographic research was based on theorists with publications on traffic, urban public transport, integration terminals, and municipal transport management. This is a descriptive, exploratory, prospective study with quantitative variables. A questionnaire was conducted to 350 users at the city's five integration terminals. The results of the study showed that: 73% rated public transport as poor; 54% have difficulty obtaining accurate information from agents; 76% rated the timeliness of the lines as poor; 90% consider the organization of queues to be poor; 50% rated the physical structure of the terminals as fair; 62% are dissatisfied with the administration of the terminals; and 88% perceive that agents lack the qualifications and training to work in these locations. It can therefore be concluded that, in the view of users of the São Luís integration terminals, there are numerous problems that compromise the quality of service, generating dissatisfaction among users.

Communicable diseases remain a significant public health burden in South Africa, particularly where environmental determinants of health intersect with fragmented surveillance systems. Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) are legally mandated to implement the surveillance and prevention of communicable disease services at the municipal level. However, this function is inconsistently operationalised and often remains reactive (outbreak-driven), with limited integration into broader national surveillance systems. This study protocol outlines a mixed-methods investigation to develop a practical framework to strengthen the communicable disease surveillance and prevention function within Environmental Health Services in South Africa. The study will assess existing guiding tools, operational practices, and intersectoral collaboration mechanisms supporting surveillance across metropolitan and district municipalities. Quantitative data will be collected through a national survey of EHPs, while qualitative data will be generated through key informant interviews with national stakeholders, focus group discussions with municipal health managers, and a targeted review of municipal documents. Quantitative data will be analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data will be thematically analysed and triangulated across data sources. The expected outcome is an integrated framework that clarifies roles, strengthens data flow, and promotes proactive, coordinated surveillance and prevention of communicable diseases within environmental health. The developed framework is anticipated to inform policy discussions and may contribute to efforts aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3, Target 3.3, on reducing communicable disease burdens, by strengthening municipal communicable disease surveillance and prevention.

Abstract Municipal councils all over Chile are increasingly adopting an unprecedented role in housing policy, challenging the country’s prevailing neoliberal model. In this article, we analyse the district of Recoleta, whose municipal council is pioneering a ‘fair rent’ strategy that seeks to transform the housing supply model and the subjectivities of residents. Through its hybrid municipal management model, Recoleta is disputing the ownership-centric approach and promoting housing as a common good. In this article, we use documentary analysis and interviews to explore how this experience has reconfigured common perceptions of housing and presented new opportunities for social justice and gender equity.

Climate change intensifies social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities in Amazonian rural communities, where dependence on natural resources and limited institutional capacity constrain adaptation. The bioeconomy is often proposed as an alternative pathway for sustainable development, yet empirical evidence of its role in resilience remains scarce. This study protocol presents a mixed methods design to evaluate climate adaptation policies and community resilience strategies in agrarian reform settlements, rural territories created through Brazil's land redistribution program, in Pará, Brazil. Although centered on a regional case, the protocol is structured to generate insights applicable to other socioecologically vulnerable rural contexts in the Amazon and comparable regions worldwide. The study will be conducted in 15 municipalities across the three regional superintendencies of the National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform. The design integrates (i) secondary data on socioeconomic, climatic, and policy indicators; (ii) semi-structured interviews with municipal managers (n = 1-3 per municipality); (iii) focus groups with community leaders (n = 8-12 per settlement); and (iv) household surveys (n = 20-50 families per settlement). Primary outcomes include the Income and Livelihood Diversification Index (ILDI), Climate Vulnerability Perception Scale (CVPS), Bioeconomy Engagement Index (BEI), and Reported Adaptive Capacity Index (RACI). Secondary measures include the Adaptation Strategy Diversity Index (ASDI) and a Municipal Climate Engagement Typology (MCET). Quantitative analyses will employ multilevel linear and generalized linear models (LMM/GLMM), while qualitative data will be analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis, with final integration achieved via a triangulation framework. This study will generate a comprehensive framework integrating indicators of vulnerability, adaptive capacity, and bioeconomy engagement across agrarian reform settlements in the Eastern Amazon. By combining household surveys, qualitative fieldwork, and municipal-level policy analysis, the protocol provides a transparent, replicable approach for assessing local climate adaptation processes. The study is designed to inform municipal and state policymakers, support the strengthening of local adaptation initiatives, and contribute evidence relevant to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 13, and 15).

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the process of closing the open dump in Itabuna-BA and the transition to the sanitary landfill located in Ilhéus-BA, with the aim of analyzing this process from the perspective of public managers involved in the formulation and implementation of public policies for solid waste management, with emphasis on socio-environmental inclusion. Theoretical Framework: In this topic, the main concepts and theories that underpin the research are presented. Public policy theory, integrated solid waste management, environmental governance, and the socio-economic inclusion of recyclable material collectors stand out, providing a solid basis for understanding the context of the investigation, in light of the Brazilian National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS). Method: The methodology adopted for this research comprises a qualitative-quantitative approach, with a predominance of qualitative analysis, involving municipal public managers directly related to the process of closing the open dump. Data collection was carried out through document analysis and semi-structured interviews, and the data were analyzed using Content Analysis, with thematic categorization supported by IRAMUTEQ software. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that the closure of the open dump occurred under strong regulatory pressure from the National Solid Waste Policy, resulting in the adoption of emergency measures and legal instruments aimed at reorganizing solid waste management. In the discussion section, these results are contextualized in light of the theoretical framework, highlighting institutional advances and challenges related to administrative capacity, sustainability of actions, and the consolidation of structuring public policies. Possible limitations of the study are also considered in this section. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing insights into how the results can be applied or influence practices in the field of public management and solid waste management. These implications may encompass improvements in public governance, strengthening socio-environmental inclusion policies, and supporting the implementation of the National Solid Waste Policy at the municipal level. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by analyzing the closure of an open dump from the perspective of public managers, highlighting the limits and potentialities of the implementation of public policies on solid waste. The relevance and value of this research are evidenced by its contribution to the debate on socio-environmental inclusion, public management, and the effectiveness of the National Solid Waste Policy.

This study evaluates the treatment performance of pilot-scale vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands (VSSF CWs) for decentralized municipal wastewater management in Iraq’s arid and semi-arid regions. Two vegetated systems—VFpL (Lemna minor) and VFpA (Arundo donax)—were assessed against an unplanted control (VF) in Al-Midhatiya, Babylon, Iraq. Each unit (0.82 m diameter × 0.80 m depth) operated in batch mode between November 2024 and March 2025, with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 5 days, extended to 8 days for nutrient removal. The influent rate averaged 0.0527 ± 0.012 m³/day, simulating real-world decentralized flow conditions. All wetland beds were filled with gravel amended by locally sourced date palm frond biochar, selected for its high porosity, mineral content, and functional group diversity. FTIR, SEM, and XRD analyses confirmed the presence of surface-active groups (e.g., carboxyl, hydroxyl), crystalline phases such as quartz and calcite, and microstructural changes associated with microbial colonization. Spectral shifts and morphological smoothing in the planted units reflected strong microbial–root interactions and biofilm formation. Treatment performance was superior in vegetated systems: VFpL achieved 86.2% (COD), 93.3% (BOD), 71.8% (TN), 71% (TP), and 86.2% (TSS) removal, while VFpA recorded 84.3%, 91%, 68.4%, 73.4%, and 89.2%, respectively. TDS removal was moderate (26.7% VFpL, 29.3% VFpA). The unplanted VF exhibited significantly lower efficiency. Statistical analysis via one-way ANOVA (p < 0.001) confirmed the enhanced performance of biochar–plant-integrated VSSF CWs as a sustainable approach for wastewater treatment in water-scarce environments.

Introduction. With the adoption of Federal Law No. 306-FZ of August 8, 2024, “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation,” hospital waste management was integrated into the federal waste management system. However, a closer analysis of certain provisions and their correlation with the practical work of medical institution has raised new questions.Objective. To analyze regulatory changes and identify new uncertainties that could impact on the practical work of medical institution and the environment.Material and methods. The provisions of the new law were analyzed in relation to issues related to the practical work of medical institutions, as well as ensuring the environmental and sanitary-epidemiological safety of waste management.Results. A number of uncertainties have been identified, relating to both specific waste management issues (responsibility for developing environmental documentation and its practical implementation) and broader issues, such as environmental safety (the possibility of further processing of Class A medical waste and the consequences of certain waste from medical institutions being classified as municipal solid waste, even though they are not, by definition, municipal solid waste) and sanitary and epidemiological safety (the lack of priority given to hardware-based treatment methods over physical impact methods). These uncertainties stem from insufficient legislative development of certain issues and provisions (the delineation of responsibilities for ensuring environmental requirements, the clarity of terminology, and the impossibility of legitimately defining hazard classes and issuing certificates by either a medical institution or a regional solid municipal waste management operator).Conclusion. The identified uncertainties lead to a lack of clear understanding of certain aspects of medical waste management. Their elimination requires a consolidated decision by several government agencies regulating both medical waste management and its production and consumption.Contribution: Balakaeva A.V. — the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, statistical processing, writing a text; Skopin A.Yu. — collection and processing of material, writing a text. All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final versionConflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Funding. The study had no sponsorship.Received: November 18, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: February 10, 2026

ABSTRACT This study explored the determinants of the performance of rural and municipal water management companies in Ghana during numerous protests over service quality and costs. Using an output-oriented data envelopment analysis (DEA) model, the study measured the technical and scale efficiencies of 23 utilities. The results showed a technical efficiency of 0.81 for municipal utilities and 0.69 for district utilities, indicating that municipal utilities could optimise outputs by 19% to achieve technical efficiency. In contrast, district-level utilities require 31% to attain comparable outputs. The analysis reveals an average revenue slack per capita of 0.55 for municipal utilities, contrasting sharply with 1.00 per capita for utilities in districts. A robust multiple linear regression analysis identified significant performance determinants, including human resources, institutional governance, democratisation, and local context. Additionally, the findings suggest that an increased donor inflow only leads to improved service delivery when accompanied by effective budgeting and expenditure monitoring systems. The application of the DEA technique provides a framework to assess, monitor, and benchmark the performance of water utilities to offer actionable insights that inform policy and management decisions to enhance service improvement and efficiency gains.

Urban green is a key component of municipal natural resources management (MNRM) in metropolitan areas, providing ecosystem services (ESs) related to climate regulation, environmental quality, and citizens’ well-being. However, these ESs are often weakly integrated into municipal management practices, and this may be due to the absence of structured accountability and reporting mechanisms. This study examines whether a topic-specific Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting framework for urban green could support the integration of ecosystem services into MNRM. The research is based on semi-structured interviews with representatives from 23 municipalities across Greece, exploring awareness of ESG concepts, views on accountability and stakeholder engagement, and perceptions of urban green as a managed natural resource. The findings indicate broad recognition of the multifunctional role of urban green and strong agreement on the value of systematic reporting and accountability. At the same time, municipalities identify the lack of an appropriate reporting framework as a key constraint, alongside organizational and staffing limitations. Drawing on stakeholder and impression management theory, the study shows the respondents support that urban green ESG reporting can function as a governance tool, enhancing transparency and stakeholder involvement. A municipal ESG reporting framework is perceived as a tool that could support operationalizing ESs within local governance structures, contributing to a more effective MNRM.

Purpose This study aims to analyze the emergence of a new accounting-related occupational group, the municipal risk managers and the associated institutional work conducted by the newly appointed risk managers to establish their tasks, role and status in the management of Finnish municipalities. Design/methodology/approach This study relies on data from the field elicited from seven cities in Finland. The authors draw on institutional theory to explain the developments leading toward harmonized practices and expertise. Data includes 32 interviews and internal documents. Findings Risk managers performed institutional work both within individual city organizations and at the field level. At the field level, uncoordinated development of risk management led to harmonization of practices and expertise which continued over time, resulting in the establishment of a recognizable new occupational group’s work content and position. Within each city, risk managers developed tools, methods and guidelines based on which risk management was implemented and established in city administrations. They adjusted their role in relation to other groups within the organization, particularly internal auditing and financial management. In the process, they integrated accounting knowledge into their developing expertise. Originality/value Forms of institutional work have not been analyzed in conjunction with a professional project on risk management in the public sector context. This study identifies how the interaction of different forms of institutional work built legitimacy and led to the formation of distinct occupational group in the Finnish municipal sector.