Purpose Knowledge is crucial for individuals' awareness of and engagement in municipal solid waste management (MSWM). Yet, the role of householders’ knowledge in linking awareness and participation, as well as its connection with non-human aspects, remains understudied. Using actor-network theory (ANT), our paper examines how householders' knowledge of “classificatory rules” for waste can increase their awareness and participation in the Kang PisMan waste management programme in Bandung, Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach We conducted semi-structured interviews with 48 household community members from two locations in Bandung. Findings (1) Knowledge about the material qualities of waste and the rules for classifying it shapes awareness around meaningful, ethical habits, (2) this awareness triggers participation, prompting people to properly discard waste using the correct bins and (3) knowledge, awareness and participation work alongside government infrastructure to support the Kang PisMan programme's success. Originality/value Integrating knowledge of “classificatory rules” can spark the creation of broader networks, where power is distributed through the translation between actants. This understanding highlights the importance of empowering the community to raise awareness and ensure successful waste management.
Sekarningrum et al. (2026) studied this question.