Waste Management Firms Research Articles

Technology innovation and sustainable organizational development in the waste management industry

Despite the global success of various sectors in technological innovation to achieve sustainable organizational development, less is applicable in the waste management industry. Therefore, the current research looks at the effects of technological innovation, and landfill resources on sustainable organizational development. Employed a quantitative approach to investigate how technological innovation affects sustainable organizational development in the waste management industry. Self-administered questionnaires of 280 managing directors of waste management firms in Southwest Nigeria participated in the survey. Before data collection, the survey instrument's validity and reliability were carefully evaluated. The study constructs were validated by exploratory factor analysis which produced the final factor structure. One item of Capacity Development 31 was removed and all items Cronbach's alpha valued. While TI one component was 0.840, LF component was 0.766, component 2 was 0.767, CD was 0.788 and SOD 0.848. These show strong internal consistency and reliability using SPSS 26.0 for the analysis. The relationship between technology adoption and sustainable organizational development for operational effectiveness and environmental sustainability is examined in this study using statistical methodologies. These findings lay the groundwork for further research by delivering insightful information about the variables impacting technology innovation and landfill resources to achieve SOD. The suggested theoretical framework attempts to close the gap between technological innovation, landfill resources and sustainable organizational development by mediating the role of capacity development. Existing research in the area mostly concentrated on other sectors leaving the waste management industry isolated. For business executives looking to maximize sustainability through technology innovation, the report offers insightful information. By incorporating more variables into the social exchange theory. This article emphasizes the value of pilot studies for better research design while also addressing the paucity of literature in the industry and providing a new paradigm for SOD.

Environmental Accounting and Sustainable Development of Firms in Rivers State, Nigeria

Within the scope of the research, environmental accounting and sustainable development were explored in relation to oil and gas firms located in Rivers State, Nigeria. There was a correlational survey research design used for the investigation. A total of six oil and gas businesses that were active in the Rivers State Region of Nigeria were included in the study's research population. For this particular investigation, secondary data served as the instrument. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 22 was used in order to do the analysis on the data. A simple bivariate regression analysis was performed at a significance level of.05. The research issues were evaluated using the mean and standard deviations, and hypotheses were assessed using the analysis. The data indicated that there is no substantial connection between the cost of waste management and the ecologically sustainable growth of oil and gas businesses in Rivers State, Nigeria. Additionally, there is a strong significant association between the cost of pollution control and the development of ecological sustainability, as well as a strong significant relationship between the cost of pollution control and the development of economic sustainability for oil and gas businesses in Rivers State, Nigeria. By adhering to social responsibility in waste management, oil and gas firms should put a premium value on initiatives that are focused towards reducing their ecological footprint and promoting sustainable growth while also reducing their environmental impact.

Precursors of circular economy practices

The study examined the precursors of circular practices among waste management firms in Ghana. Its objectives were to assess the internal financial environment and the external financial environment of the firms as the precursor of its circular economy practices The study used a cross-sectional design and a quantitative research method. Data was collected from the owners/managers of integrated waste management firms in the Environmental Service Providers Association of Ghana database. On that note, 524 firms participated in the survey. The data was collected using a closed-ended questionnaire consisting of a seven-point Likert-like scale. The findings show that the factors influencing the adoption of circular economy techniques by waste management companies in Ghana include the internal environment that is firm-level financial environment, financial readiness, and investment readiness. External factors such as country level financial environment and international level financial environment were not significant precursors. It is advised that companies in the circular economy, such as waste management companies, establish the enabling conditions for moving ahead with sustainable business practices.

IoT Based Automated Waste Management System for Sustainable Cities

Innovative approaches are required to effectively manage waste disposal and recycling in light of the growing global waste crisis. Conventional waste management systems frequently require real-time data and inefficiencies to be addressed, which results in inefficient use of resources and damage to the environment. In order to assess waste management, this paper suggests utilizing data analytics and Internet of Things (IoT) technology advancements along with the integration of smart bins. Installing compactors to optimize space usage, sensors to detect fill levels, and connectivity to send real-time data to a central management system are all features of smart bins. This makes it possible for waste management firms and municipalities to keep an eye on waste generation trends, improve collection routes, and more efficiently allocate resources. Furthermore, by adding features like gamification and reward programs, smart bins can encourage recycling and promote public engagement in sustainable waste management practices. Comparing smart bins to conventional waste management techniques reveals a number of benefits. Municipalities that offer actionable insights into waste generation and disposal behaviors can lower operating costs, minimize their impact on the environment, and improve overall service quality. Additionally, incorporating smart bins improves the quality of life for locals and promotes sustainability in line with larger smart city initiatives. This study looks at the technical aspects of smart bin systems, looks at case studies of effective installations, and talks about possible obstacles and factors to take into account before broad adoption. Communities can set the path for a future that is more effective, sustainable, and environmentally conscious by reevaluating waste management with smart bins.

The antecedents of circular economy financing and investment supply: The role of financial environment

The study examines the antecedents of circular economy financing and investment supply and the role of the financial environment in Ghana. It employed the survey technique to solicit the views of owners/managers of integrated waste management firms. PLS-SEM was used to analyse the data obtained. The results revealed financial readiness, and investment preparedness influence circular economy financing and investment supply. Country-level financial environment enhances the relationship between financial readiness and circular economy financing and investment supply. Moreover, the country-level financial environment enhances the relationship between investment preparedness and circular economy financing and investment supply. The study draws implications for the state of green financing and related constraints in its demand, supply, and enabling financial environment. Specifically, the results show that demand-side factors are critical antecedents. Further, the effect of these antecedents on circular economy finance and investment supply increases in its magnitude when country-level financial conditions that support green financing and circular economy are in place.

The potential for exchange-traded futures on recycled materials to improve recycling efficiency

Recycling has substantial environmental and economic benefits, but the recycling industry is relatively inefficient. Approximately half of all recyclable material is not actually recycled, and this inefficiency is economically and environmentally costly. This paper investigates the potential for exchange-traded futures on recycled materials to increase efficiency for the recycling industry by improving the market quality for firms that buy and sell recycled materials. The aim of this study is to statistically analyze a novel data set of prices for recycled materials to demonstrate the potential efficiency gains to introducing exchange-traded futures on recycled materials. The theoretical basis for this financial innovation is numerous previous studies showing that introducing exchange-traded derivatives improves the market quality of the underlying asset. The results of the analysis show that price volatility of recycled materials is generally high, with monthly standard deviation greater than 6%. Price volatility of recycled materials is excessive compared to price volatility of analogous new materials. Also, stock price volatility of waste management firms is positively related to price volatility in recycled materials. Price volatility of recycled materials explains 12% of the excess stock price volatility for waste management firms. This paper includes a practical discussion of proposed specifications and standards for these new financial contracts and plans for further research studies. Along with previous studies on the listing of exchange-traded derivatives, the conclusion of the statistical analysis is that there are large potential economic and environmental benefits to listing exchange-traded futures on recycled materials.

Digitalization of waste management: Insights from German private and public waste management firms.

Policymakers, practitioners, and scholars have long-lauded digital technologies, such as smart waste containers or artificial intelligence for material recognition and robotic automation, as key enablers to more effective and efficient waste management. While these advances promise an increasingly digitalized future for collecting, sorting, and recycling waste material, little is known about the current extent of digitalization by waste management firms. Available studies focus on firms’ digitalization intentions, largely neglecting the level of actual adoption of digital technologies, and do not differentiate the level of digitalization alongside different steps of the waste management value chain. Our study reports on a cross-sectional descriptive survey that captures current digitalization efforts and strategies of 130 public and private waste management firms in Germany. We analyze their levels of digitalization along with different steps of the waste management value chain, explore their different objectives, approaches, and transformational measures with regard to digitalization. Our findings reveal that while the perceived importance of digitalization in the waste management sector continues to grow, the actual adoption of advanced digital technologies falls notably behind intentions reported in 2016 and 2017. We explore the reasons for this gap, point out so far largely ignored research opportunities, and derive recommendations for waste management firms and associations.

Smart Electronic Bin Using IoT

The amount of garbage that humans generate is rapidly increasing, and it will be impossible to control without radical adjustments. Such increases will have a significant impact on waste management firms, since they would be required to supply resources for garbage collection with little or no money. The goal of this project is to create a smart real-time waste controller system using the conceptual model of a smart electronic bin, which can be built by maximizing resource efficiency and optimizing the resources. This smart garbage bin prototype can automatically open the lid when it recognizes persons who wish to dispose of their trash. Even if people wish to dispose of their trash, if the waste bin is full, the lid will not open. It can also segregate plastic and non-plastic wastes. This smart bin is equipped with additional components such as GPS and GSM, for showing the location and to send alert messages. It can also detect the amount of trash in the garbage bin. The percentage-level of waste inside the bin is determined using an ultrasonic sensor. This data is delivered to a cloud-based monitoring and analytics IoT platform

Activities of Osun Waste Management Agency on Job Creation

Existing studies on waste management agencies focused on sustainable environment, environmentalquality, ignoring the fact that the waste management outlets shoulder a broad class of activities whichinvariably create diverse employment opportunities for the populace. This study assessed the impact ofwaste management agency on job creation in Osun State. A well-structured questionnaire was administeredto 200 respondents; (50) from Osun State waste management agency (OWMA) and thirty (30) eachfrom five other private waste management firms registered under them. These were selected through amulti-stage sampling technique. Data analysis was done through descriptive and regression analysis. Thestudy revealed that waste storage and collection, waste transfer and transportation, waste processing andrecovery and waste disposal are waste management processes significant (p<0,05), with great prospectof facilitating employment generation. Our results also found that working condition is positively relatedto job creation but insignificant to the study (p>0,05). It was recommended that government should enactpolicies that will facilitate and encourage the establishment of waste management plants in all otherlocal government areas of Osun State that yet to be covered and across the nation as a way of ensuringenvironmental management and employment generation in the country.Key words: Waste, Waste Management, Job Creation, Unemployment.

Waste Management Firms as Catalysts for Developing SME's Circular Business Models: the Possibilities of Industrial Symbiosis

The purpose of this research was to explore possibilities for waste management firms (WMFs) to act as lead firms in industrial symbiosis (IS) processes with small and medium enterprise (SME) clients in order to promote circular business models. We were curious to see how willing, and able four local WMFs were regarding the adoption of a firm lead role and under what conditions. We used a case study design because of the lack of research on the topic and the explorative nature of the research itself. First, we interviewed nine representatives from four WMFs using a semi-structured interview protocol. We then presented our results to the representatives as a basis for further discussion. We found that WMFs are open to adopting the various roles associated with a lead firm position in industrial symbiosis but need various kinds of support in order to so, for example, in coordinating the IS – network and for financing the activities. Our research is original in the sense that we look at the concept of IS from the specific context of a WMF-SME symbiotic relationship. We also contribute to both the IS literature as well as that of new business model development. Management implications include understanding why firms are willing to explore new business models with their client partners.

Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) management practices in micro- and small-sized enterprises: The case of the Portuguese waste management sector

The waste management sector is dominated by micro and small-sized enterprises. Although it is possible to anticipate that they may face the same problems as other small firms, information about activities related to the prevention of occupational risks in this sector and how this influences Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) performance is still limited. This study aims to address the issue, contributing to current literature about the protection of employees and the prevention of occupational risks in the waste management sector. The study was conducted at 66 enterprises in Portugal. Data about OHS management practices was collected through different sources, such as questionnaires applied to employers and analysis of documents and records available at the enterprise. A summative index that assesses seven OHS performance aspects was used to characterize the enterprises regarding their OHS performance level. The results showed that micro and small-sized waste management firms display several constraints with regard to OHS management. Several enterprises still do not have organized preventive services. Additionally, OSH policies or objectives, risk assessment, training and accident recording mechanisms were found to be non-existent in several cases. The time dedicated by employers to OHS issues and the support of external advisory services was also low for some firms. A positive and statistically significant association was found between these variables and the enterprises’ OHS performance level. Future research will focus on designing an intervention to improve OHS in the waste management sector as a whole.

Coordination strategies and analysis of waste management supply chain

There has been an increased awareness among consumers regarding sustainability, especially in regards to recycling of used products. Firms are actively incorporating recycled/recyclable content in their product design to capture these “green” consumers in addition to the traditional consumers. Post-consumption, the waste management firms (WMF) are responsible for collecting, sorting and reselling the recyclable portion of the products and they face the threat of reduced revenues due to increased use of recycled content upstream by the original equipment manufacturers (OEM). This results in discrepancies in the optimal recycled content decision as far as the integrated waste management supply chain is concerned. We provide solutions to reconcile such discrepancy and suggest couple of approaches - (i)Nash bargaining assuming the OEM and the WMF both hold some relative bargaining power, (ii)Central Planner’s approach with tax and subsidy mechanism as a coordination strategy. We compare the optimal results under both these methods and further extend our analysis to consider investments by the OEM and WMF. We find that the taxes on the OEMs increase with their optimal investment behavior and subsidies might increase or decrease when waste management firms optimally invest in the recycling of the post-consumption products.

The relationship among customer operant resources, online value co-creation and electronic-word-of-mouth in solid waste management marketing

In recent times, waste management has engaged the attention of governments, policy makers, and academics as it has ramifications for the health and well-being of citizens, the environment, and the economy. In this regard, waste management firms and policy makers are employing strategic approaches to waste management efforts by empowering relations among various stakeholders to innovate. Thus, customer and stakeholder value co-creation is one such strategic approach waste management firms can adopt to create value and to brand. Previous studies of co-creation in waste management are largely broad in perspective. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to assess the relationship among customer operant resources, online value co-creation and digital branding through electronic word-of-mouth in the Ghanaian waste collection industry. Using the positivist research paradigm approach, a structured questionnaire was used to collect data from customers through social media platforms. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to test the hypotheses. The relationships among customer operant resources, co-creation and electronic word-of-mouth were all significant. Customer value co-creation positively mediates between customer operant resources and electronic word-of-mouth. Firm web-based platforms also positively moderate the effects of customer operant resources on customer online value co-creation. The results of the study can guide management of the firms to design appropriate strategic and educational programs for the customers. This study has advanced knowledge on the importance of customer operant resources in waste management value co-creation by demonstrating the degree of impact of each of these customer resources.

A worldwide empirical analysis of the accounting behaviour in the waste management sector

Drawing on stakeholder theory, the premise in this manuscript is that moral and ethical behavior in terms of correct financial information contribute to higher sustainable performance that satisfies the wide range of stakeholders who are interested in the economic feasibility and environmental viability of waste management firms. On the basis of a scientific literature review and by using a balanced panel data set of 416 waste management firms worldwide over the period 2013–2016, the empirical evidence shows that ownership structures (e.g. governmental, institutional, corporate group, family, and concentrated) as well as corporate governance characteristics (e.g. size of the board, directors’ gender, nationality, and expertise) diversely affect waste management firms’ accounting behavior in terms of both discretionary accruals and earnings smoothness. The findings bring into focus the “black boxes” of ownership structures and corporate governance encouraging the policy makers to shape up laws that can constrain accounting misbehavior in waste management firms.

Can a social enterprise sustain operational efficiency and profitability in an open market? The case of Spring Back Recycling

Social enterprises often seek to provide their stakeholders with economic, social, and environmental benefits. We find that developing and sustaining a social enterprise can challenge profitability in a competitive, profit-maximising marketplace. Much of the public and non-profit economic literature questions the ability of a social enterprise, with a primary emphasis on providing a social or environmental good over maximising profit, to sustain a competitive position in a commercial marketplace. For the past five years, we have conceived, developed, and implemented a social entrepreneurial venture with an aim of sustaining profitability. Spring Back Recycling is a service-oriented social enterprise that provides transitional employment, a sustainable source of revenue and earned income, and an operational enterprise that diverts millions of pounds of solid waste. Spring Back's distinctive business model and value proposition have not only achieved sustainable profitability, but have also been able to differentiate the enterprise from traditional, profit-maximising solid waste management firms.

Waste, Recycling and Entrepreneurship in Central and Northern Europe, 1870-1940

This working paper examines the role of entrepreneurs in the municipal solid waste industry in industrialized central and northern Europe from the late nineteenth century to the 1940s. It explores the emergence of numerous German, Danish and other European entrepreneurial firms explicitly devoted to making a profitable business out of conserving and returning valuable resources to productive use, while maintaining public sanitation and in many cases offering nascent environmental protections. These ventures were qualitatively different from both earlier small-scale private waste traders, and the late twentieth-century integrated waste management firms, and have been neglected in an era that historians have treated as a period of municipalization. These entrepreneurs sometimes had strikingly modern views of environmental challenges and the need to overcome them. They initiated processes for sorting and recycling waste materials that are still employed today. Yet it proved difficult to combine making profits and achieving social value in accordance with the "shared value" model of today. As providers of public goods such as health and sanitation and a cleaner environment the entrepreneurs were often unable to capture sufficient profits to sustain businesses. Recycled-goods markets were volatile. There was also a tension between the constant waste stream on the collection side and a seasonal/cyclical demand for recycled products. The frequent failure of these businesses helps to explain why in more recent decades private waste companies have been associated with late entry into recycling, often trailing municipal governments and non-profit entities.

Briefing: Implications of material security concern for waste management

Supply security for specialty metals has become a concern in advanced economies and improved waste and resource management features prominently among the suggested policy solutions. Legislation with a material impact on boundary conditions for industries is currently lacking. Despite high price levels, significant legislation and public investment appear necessary in order to entice industry to increase efforts in this field, because of large uncertainties and risks for waste management firms. Individual companies and industry associations should seek to intensify the emerging dialogue with policy makers in Europe and elsewhere about meaningful public–private partnerships in this field.

Reference Data Models for the Strategic Controlling of Waste Management Firms

The paper depicts the development of reference data models for strategic key performance indicator systems specific to waste management firms providing a new comprehensive typology of generic models for data warehouse solutions. Additionally, a development methodology for industry solutions is applied, which, given the empirically founded typification process and the theoretically derived performance measurement systems, is characterized by a high degree of structure and transparency. The new approach thus systematically integrates both inductive-empirical and deductive-analytical elements.

License scheme: an optimal waste management policy under asymmetric information

A system requiring a waste management license from an enforcement agency has been introduced in many countries. A license system is usually coupled with fines, a manifest, and a disposal tax. However, these policy devices have not been integrated into an optimal policy. In this paper we derive an optimal waste management policy by using those policy devices. Waste management policies are met with three difficult problems: asymmetric information, the heterogeneity of waste management firms, and non-compliance by waste management firms and waste disposers. The optimal policy in this paper overcomes all three problems.

Un'analisi sulla gestione dei rifiuti urbani nei comuni capoluogo di provincia

- Effectiveness, efficiency and affordability have been among the key criteria for municipal solid waste management in the Italian legal framework since the so-called "Ronchi Decree" of 1997. The paper analyses the economic performance of waste-collection firms in Italy. We construct a dataset that includes almost all the companies performing waste collection in the provincial capitals of Italy. We investigate their capital structure, profitability, value added, productivity, investment and business development by means of a set of financial ratios. The research is developed through the assessment of the effects on firms' performance of specialisation, localisation, temporal evolution, size and legal form of firms and the remuneration system for waste collection. The aim of this paper is twofold. First, given the almost universal nature of the sample under investigation, we describe the economic and financial structure of waste collection firms in Italy; second, we empirically evaluate the extent to which the sector has taken on the industrial characteristics set forward in the legal framework. Hence the analysis is conducted both at sector level and at firm level. At the aggregate level, it is possible to identify a trend for the sector as a whole towards convergence with the rest of the economy. However, waste management still displays clear signs of backwardness, especially due to weaker financial structure, higher incidence of labour costs on value added and lower investment. Firm-level data are analysed with both univariate and multivariate statistical techniques. The results confirm the general backwardness of the sector, with businesses located in Southern part of Italy lagging even further behind. Moreover, firms simultaneously providing multiple utility services are more profitable than those specialized in the waste sector only. However this appears attributable to cross-subsidisation between services, not economies of scope. Both scale of operations and legal form have a positive impact on firms' profitability, thanks in part to a negative correlation with degree of specialisation. Moreover, the economic performance of waste management firms is significantly pro-cyclical. Finally, the new cost-based remuneration system for collection services produces ambiguous results. It has a positive effect on operational efficiency and productivity but does not increase the return on capital. A simple econometric model is estimated to evaluate the simultaneous impact on firms' performance of specialisation, localisation, temporal evolution, size, legal form and remuneration system, confirming the outcome of the univariate analysis. In the light of our results, the successful "industrialization" of the waste management sector appears still far away.Keywords: local public services, waste management, regulationJEL classifications: L32, L51, Q53Parole chiave: servizi pubblici locali, gestione dei rifiuti urbani, regolamentazione