A resilient disaster waste management framework for communities: Experiences from Australian industry practitioners

Abstract

The recent escalation in frequency and intensity of disasters demonstrates the urgent need to manage the overwhelming amount of waste generated from these events. This study developed a resilient Disaster Waste Management (DWM) framework with six key actions and an annual DWM health check plan for industry decision-makers to build resilient communities. The DWM framework and health check plan were based on analysis of the waste management literature and semi-structured interviews with local and state government decision-makers and waste management industry practitioners in Queensland, Australia. Four key insights about the effective DWM plan emerged from a thematic analysis: 1) improve decision-maker understanding of DWM; 2) the barriers to effective DWM; 3) the range of stakeholders; and 4) six priority elements of an action plan that enable effective DWM. The Institutional theory, and PPRR (Prevention, Preparation, Response, Recovery) model were used to interpret the findings. An institutional theory perspective was offered on these findings, concluding the potential for normative, coercive and mimetic drivers to influence DWM decision makers to shape informed decision making and legitimize the transition to resilient waste management practices.