Community empowerment model in the refuse-derived fuel waste management program in Indonesia
Dikhorir Afnan, Mahendra Wijaya, Drajat Tri Kartono, Agung Wibowo
Abstract
This study develops an integrative community empowerment model specifically designed for refuse-derived fuel (RDF)-based waste management systems in developing countries, using a case study in rural Indonesia. Despite the increasing attention on RDF as a sustainable waste-to-energy solution, previous studies have predominantly focused on technical and environmental aspects, leaving a critical research gap in understanding how socially embedded empowerment models can support RDF implementation. While RDF offers promising waste-to-energy solutions, its success is constrained by low community participation, limited technical skills, and fragmented institutional support. Employing a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, and document analysis in three partner villages. The findings reveal that effective RDF implementation requires a multi-level empowerment strategy that combines technical capacity building, decentralized waste management infrastructure, and participatory governance involving corporate, governmental, and community actors. The proposed model uniquely integrates circular economy principles with community development theories, emphasizing feedback loops, inclusive decision-making, and economic incentives to sustain participation. This study contributes a novel and transferable framework that enhances local agency and system resilience in waste-to-energy transitions, bridging circular economy and social inclusion—an area largely overlooked in existing RDF research. • A hybrid empowerment model links RDF with inclusive waste governance. • Community-driven sorting improves fuel quality and local participation. • Training, incentives, and feedback loops build institutional resilience. • Waste banks enable circular economy practices at the grassroots level. • The model supports adaptive and scalable solutions for the Global South.