{"id":11,"date":"2024-04-04T04:57:17","date_gmt":"2024-04-04T01:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/waste\/31-waste-management-actors-and-governance-problems\/"},"modified":"2024-10-10T20:45:41","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T17:45:41","slug":"31-waste-management-actors-and-governance-problems","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/waste\/31-waste-management-actors-and-governance-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"3.1. Waste management actors and governance problems"},"content":{"rendered":"

Organizational structure\u00a0[Ref 6]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organizational structure for waste management varies\u00a0considerably from country to country, but most of the systems have certain functions that need to be fulfilled. For an auditor, it is necessary to map out the appropriate authorities in order to identify the relevant entities that should be audited. As one of the first tasks of an auditor, the responsible government bodies and the nature of the accountability relationships between the actors should be identified (see also Figure 14).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legislative bodies (parliament and federal parliament)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most countries have a legislative body responsible for formulating environmental policies and enacting relevant laws. Besides national considerations, international agreements provide directions for national legislative work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relevant government departments and other government authorities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many countries one government authority (ministry, department, agency etc.)\u00a0is responsible for all environmental policies at the federal or national level, including the management of waste. In other countries, several ministries or other authorities\u00a0are responsible for different parts of the waste management system. In these countries it is important to map the actors and their responsibilities in order to identify which aspects of the policy each institution is responsible for and how they coordinate their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The relevant institution\u00a0(or institutions) are responsible for several important functions. In some countries these functions are carried out by subordinate agencies. The important consideration here is whether the highest governmental authority (the ministry or other authority) has an overview of activities and makes sure they are performed well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local governments<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of local governments in waste management activities and responsibility varies greatly between countries. In some countries, responsibility for waste management (especially municipal solid waste management) lies entirely with local governments. Alternatively, this may be divided between central\/federal government and local governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local governments can be responsible for organizing the collection and recycling of waste or for collecting tax to help fund waste management. Local governments can apply rules for waste management and approve waste management plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Control authorities (government level, regional level and local level)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many countries have an authority responsible for controlling pollution and for inspecting and monitoring the environment and activities that have an impact on the environment. In these cases, it is necessary to map out the role it plays in the waste management system. If such an agency does not exist, the SAI should identify the actors performing these functions. If these functions are not discharged, it may be the responsibility of the SAI to inform the appropriate authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the type of waste, the authorities that administer or regulate the waste may be at the regional or provincial level or at the local or municipal level. All actors should be mapped out, even though some may fall outside the SAI\u2019s auditing mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waste handlers\/operators<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most typical waste handlers should be identified without going into great detail. In most cases, specialised companies owned by (or acting on behalf of) the authorities are responsible for handling waste from collection to disposal. The activities of these actors may produce social costs in terms of health and environmental risk. It is therefore essential for outside evaluators to ensure that the service is provided in a fair, effective, efficient and environmentally sustainable manner. Control authorities should have an overview of the commercial companies and traders involved in waste management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waste generators\/producers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost every human activity produces waste. Waste generator\/producer\u00a0is anyone whose activities produce waste. Understanding the role of\u00a0waste generators\/producers\u00a0is very important because waste can be prevented, or the amount of waste reduced, solely by their actions. Effective recycling and reuse of waste depends largely on the correct\u00a0collection and sorting practices of waste generators.
The behaviour of waste generators\u00a0is strongly related to their awareness and attitudes. It is very important to keep raising public awareness of sound waste management and to provide information (see also Module 2<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Actors\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Figure 14. <\/strong>Actors in the waste management chain.
Source: National Audit Office of Estonia<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"case\"AUDIT CASE: MAPPING ACTORS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brazil<\/b> \u2013 Mapping relevant waste management policy actors<\/strong><\/p>SAI Brazil audited the governance of the Brazilian national waste management policy in the period of 2015-2016. The national waste management policy foresees that all levels of government as well as the private sector should work in mutual collaboration to achieve the goals of the policy. One of the challenges for auditors was to map relevant waste management policy actors as Brazil is a big federal country with three levels of government\u00a0 \u2013 national sub-national and local governments. Interviews and documental analysis were made to identify the most important actors and the SAI of Brazil consequently decided to focus on national actors in charge of policy coordination. Lack of participation of local and sub-national actors as well as the private sector and civil society in the waste management committees \u2013 vital for implementing the national waste management policy \u2013 was one of the findings of the audit.<\/span>

FULL CASE (pdf)<\/a> <\/span><\/p>

Audit problem tree<\/a><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a0\"thinking\"THINKING EXERCISE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Draw an actors map based on your country-specific situation. What is\u00a0similar and what is\u00a0unique compared to other countries in your region?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The INTOSAI WGEA guidelines also list and describe numerous governance problems<\/strong> related to waste management (Figure 15). You may wish to bear these in mind while going through the next sub-chapters of this Module. This will help you to think about audit questions that are relevant to your country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Governance<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Figure 15.<\/strong> Possible governance problems<\/span><\/span>\u00a0[Ref 6]\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"case\"AUDIT CASE: WASTE MANAGEMENT MONITORING AND CONTROL<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Morocco \u2013 Waste management monitoring and control systems<\/strong><\/p>SAI Morocco has issued various audit reports on the management of household waste. The following video case has been put together based on the observations and recommendations from these reports, with a focus on problems related to waste management monitoring and control systems.<\/span>

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