Community engagement in the management of biosolids: Lessons from four New Zealand studies

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2012-07, Vol.103, p.154-164
• Main Authors: Goven, Joanna, Langer, E.R. (Lisa), Baker, Virginia, Ataria, James, Leckie, Alan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accountability; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biosolids; Citizen participation; Communities; Community action; Community engagement; Community Participation; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Decision making; Environmental management; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Indigenous knowledge; Institutions; Knowledge; Learning; Local knowledge; Management; Maori; Māori; New Zealand; Policies; Public participation; Research projects; Residence Characteristics; Sewage sludge; Sludge; Social learning; Strategy; Studies; Sustainable development; Traditional ecological knowledge; Waste disposal; Waste Management
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.02.007

Biosolids management has been largely overlooked as an issue for environmental co-management, collaborative learning and public participation. This paper summarises four research projects on facilitating community involvement in biosolids management in New Zealand. The authors situate these studies both in relation to the New Zealand institutional and policy context for the management of biosolids and in relation to the themes of public participation and social learning in the literature on community involvement in environmental management. From the studies it can be concluded that: the incorporation of the knowledge and views of Māori is important from both public-participation and social-learning perspectives; both public-participation and social-learning approaches must consider the role of issue-definition in relation to willingness to participate; democratic accountability remains a challenge for both approaches; and locating biosolids management within an integrated water-and-wastewater or sustainable waste-management strategy may facilitate wider community participation as well as better-coordinated decision-making. ► We study the facilitation of community involvement in biosolids management. ► We examine four approaches to community engagement, including indigenous people. ► Indigenous views and knowledge can make important contributions to decision-making. ► Locating biosolids in broader strategy may facilitate wider community participation.