IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i23p6580-d289459.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Plastics Waste Metabolism in a Petro-Island State: Towards Solving a “Wicked Problem” in Trinidad and Tobago

Author

Listed:
  • Kalim U. Shah

    (Biden School of Public Policy & Administration, University of Delaware, Newark, NJ 19716 DE, USA)

  • Keron Niles

    (Institute for International Relations, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago, Newark, NJ 19716 DE, USA)

  • Saleem H. Ali

    (Department of Geography, University of Delaware, Newark, NJ 19716 DE, USA)

  • Dinesh Surroop

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Mauritius, Reduit 80837, Mauritius)

  • Doorgeshwaree Jaggeshar

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Mauritius, Reduit 80837, Mauritius)

Abstract

Island systems have limited geographical, ecological, and social capacity to metabolize waste materials produced by the economic activities of their growing populations. Conceptualized as a ‘wicked problem’, the faults and weaknesses in waste management systems on islands continue to cause acute and cumulative ecological and human health impacts. Trinidad and Tobago is one such island jurisdiction grappling with this situation, particularly being a petroleum-dependent economy. Through the lens of neo-institutional theory, this case study of waste management in Trinidad and Tobago unpacks the efforts, reactions, drivers and circumstances that have led to various successes and failures but no definitive solutions over time, especially regarding plastics and packaging materials. We identify three temporal phases of policy evolution that have altered the waste metabolism trajectory to date: (1) government led patriarchal approach of traditional landfilling combined with behavioral change campaigns to reduce, reuse, and recycle, (2) to a more democratic, shared burden, public-private partnership approach combined with attempts at incentive-based regulations, (3) to the present, more private sector-led voluntary bans on production and use of plastics. This study contributes to our understanding of the institutional factors that shape the search for solutions to the wicked problem of island waste metabolism.

Suggested Citation

  • Kalim U. Shah & Keron Niles & Saleem H. Ali & Dinesh Surroop & Doorgeshwaree Jaggeshar, 2019. "Plastics Waste Metabolism in a Petro-Island State: Towards Solving a “Wicked Problem” in Trinidad and Tobago," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:23:p:6580-:d:289459
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/23/6580/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/23/6580/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jiazhe Sun & Kaizhong Yang, 2016. "The Wicked Problem of Climate Change: A New Approach Based on Social Mess and Fragmentation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Julia Thienen & Christoph Meinel & Claudia Nicolai, 2014. "How Design Thinking Tools Help To Solve Wicked Problems," Understanding Innovation, in: Larry Leifer & Hasso Plattner & Christoph Meinel (ed.), Design Thinking Research, edition 127, pages 97-102, Springer.
    3. Nancy C. Roberts, 1992. "Roberts: Public Entrepreneurship and Innovation," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 11(1), pages 55-74, March.
    4. Shah, Kalim U. & Niles, Keron, 2016. "Energy policy in the Caribbean green economy context and the Institutional Analysis and Design (IAD) framework as a proposed tool for its development," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 768-777.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Anna Barford & Saffy Rose Ahmad, 2021. "A Call for a Socially Restorative Circular Economy: Waste Pickers in the Recycled Plastics Supply Chain," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 761-782, September.
    2. Simron Jit. Singh & Marina Fischer-Kowalski & Marian Chertow, 2020. "Introduction: The Metabolism of Islands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-8, November.
    3. Euclides Santos Bittencourt & Cristiano Hora de Oliveira Fontes & Jorge Laureano Moya Rodriguez & Salvador Ávila Filho & Adonias Magdiel Silva Ferreira, 2020. "Modeling the Socioeconomic Metabolism of End-of-Life Tires Using Structural Equations: A Brazilian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-28, March.
    4. Johnella Bradshaw & Simron Jit Singh & Su-Yin Tan & Tomer Fishman & Kristen Pott, 2020. "GIS-Based Material Stock Analysis (MSA) of Climate Vulnerabilities to the Tourism Industry in Antigua and Barbuda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-22, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wil Hout & Lydeke Schakel, 2014. "SGACA: The Rise and Paradoxical Demise of a Political-Economy Instrument," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 32(5), pages 611-630, September.
    2. Xinya You, 2022. "Applying design thinking for business model innovation," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-25, December.
    3. Mpandeli, S. & Naidoo, D. & Mabhaudhi, T. & Nhemachena, Charles & Nhamo, Luxon & Liphadzi, S. & Hlahla, S. & Modi, A. T., "undated". "Climate change adaptation through the water-energy-food nexus in southern Africa," Papers published in Journals (Open Access) H048960, International Water Management Institute.
    4. Jelica Rastoka & Saša Petković & Dragana Radicic, 2022. "Impact of Entrepreneurship on the Quality of Public Health Sector Institutions and Policies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-25, January.
    5. Martínez, Augusto Polibio & Jara-Alvear, José & Andrade, Rolando Josué & Icaza, Daniel, 2023. "Sustainable development indicators for electric power generation companies in Ecuador: A case study," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    6. Nina Van der Vliet & Brigit Staatsen & Hanneke Kruize & George Morris & Caroline Costongs & Ruth Bell & Sibila Marques & Timothy Taylor & Sonia Quiroga & Pablo Martinez Juarez & Vojtech Máca & Milan Š, 2018. "The INHERIT Model: A Tool to Jointly Improve Health, Environmental Sustainability and Health Equity through Behavior and Lifestyle Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-21, July.
    7. Zerfaß, Ansgar & Stieglitz, Stefan & Clausen, Sünje & Ziegele, Daniel & Berger, Karen, 2023. "Communications Trend Radar 2023. State revival, scarcity management, unimagination, augmented workflows & parallel worlds," Communication Insights 17, Academic Society for Management & Communication – An initiative of the Günter Thiele Foundation, Leipzig.
    8. Andrew S. Gallan & Anu Helkkula, 2022. "Cocreating transformative value propositions with customers experiencing vulnerability during humanitarian crises," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 12(1), pages 85-101, June.
    9. Hangsheng Yang & Min Tang & Xiangrui Chao & Pu Li, 2024. "How environmental regulation influences the green economy efficiency of resource-based cities: an empirical study from China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(11), pages 27249-27276, November.
    10. Edwin Bbenkele & L. Madikiza, 2016. "Envisioning Public Sector Pathways: Gauteng as an Entrepreneurial Province in South Africa," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 2(2), pages 91-108, July.
    11. dos Santos Alves, Camila Elisa & Belarmino, Luiz Clovis & Padula, Antonio Domingos, 2017. "Feedstock diversification for biodiesel production in Brazil: Using the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) to evaluate the impact of the PNPB and the economic competitiveness of alternative oilseeds," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 297-309.
    12. Edler, Jakob & James, Andrew D., 2015. "Understanding the emergence of new science and technology policies: Policy entrepreneurship, agenda setting and the development of the European Framework Programme," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(6), pages 1252-1265.
    13. Bénard-Sora, Fiona & Praene, Jean Philippe, 2018. "Sustainable urban planning for a successful energy transition on Reunion Island: From policy intentions to practical achievement," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1-13.
    14. Kersey, Jessica & Blechinger, Philipp & Shirley, Rebekah, 2021. "A panel data analysis of policy effectiveness for renewable energy expansion on Caribbean islands," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    15. Ahmed Sabab Sharek & Kalim U. Shah, 2021. "Tracking the quality of scientific knowledge inputs in reports generated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 11(4), pages 586-594, December.
    16. Vassallo, Jarrod P. & Banerjee, Sourindra & Zaman, Hasanuzzaman & Prabhu, Jaideep C., 2023. "Design thinking and public sector innovation: The divergent effects of risk-taking, cognitive empathy and emotional empathy on individual performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(6).
    17. Kalim U. Shah & Sashwat Roy & Wei-Ming Chen & Keron Niles & Dinesh Surroop, 2020. "Application of an Institutional Assessment and Design (IAD)-Enhanced Integrated Regional Energy Policy and Planning (IREPP) Framework to Island States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, April.
    18. Benoy Jacob & Eric Welch & Terence Simms, 2009. "Emergent Management Strategies in a Public Agency: A Case Study of Alternative Fuel Vehicles," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 213-234, September.
    19. Stephen Schweinsberg & Simon Darcy, 2022. "Climate Change, Time and Tourism Knowledge: The Relativity of Simultaneity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-13, December.
    20. Sarah Michaels & Melinda Laituri, 1999. "Exogenous and indigenous influences on sustainable management," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 7(2), pages 77-86.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:23:p:6580-:d:289459. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.