A Systematic Literature Review of Solid Waste Management Policy Implementation in Southeast Asia

Rapid urbanisation, population growth, economic development, and changing consumption patterns have increased waste generation worldwide. In many urban areas of Southeast Asia, waste is the most visible environmental issue, as waste generation has increased rapidly over the last decade. Effective implementation ensures that the outcomes correspond to policy goals. Most Southeast Asian countries have policies and regulations on solid waste management (SWM). However, the policies lack efficient implementation processes and enforcement. (1) political systems influence SWM effectiveness, (2) adequate resources, (3) appropriate technology, and (4) public awareness and participation. Even though many studies have been conducted on SWM implementation, very few focused on the Southeast Asian region. A systematic literature review of research articles retrieved from the Web of Science and Scopus databases was conducted. This study analysed 17 articles from 598 articles initially retrieved to answer the research questions. The analysisfound that multiple stakeholders participated in the SWM system, and a set of challenges revealed the leading causes of policy failure. The analyses served as guidelines to plan for the effective implementation of SWM policies.