Redesigning Community-Based Waste Management Systems Using Behavioral Insights for Sustainable Rural Waste Management

Abstract

Waste management remains a major challenge in rural areas of developing countries, including Indonesia, due to limited system capacity and low household participation in source separation. This study aims to redesign the waste management system in Cepogo Village by integrating behavioral insights, ecosystem analysis, and a Business Process Reengineering (BPR) approach. A mixed-methods approach was applied, combining field observations, semi-structured interviews, document analysis, scenario-based simulation, and financial feasibility assessment. The results show that the existing system is dominated by direct disposal to landfill due to low household sorting practices, dependence on downstream sorting at the TPS 3R, and increasing operational burdens that lead to a monthly financial deficit. Ecosystem analysis identifies key bottlenecks, including inconsistent sorting behavior, limited institutional regulation, and operational constraints in collection and processing. Simulation results indicate that increasing household waste separation can reduce landfill dependence, improve material recovery, and enhance financial performance. Financial analysis demonstrates a transition from deficit conditions to potential surplus across intervention scenarios, with payback periods ranging from 1.7 to 0.7 years. These findings highlight the importance of integrating behavioral, institutional, and technical interventions to improve sustainable rural waste management systems.