Waste to welfare: Village-level circular economy innovation for sustainable environmental governance

¹ Department of Communication and Community Development Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
² Department of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecotourism, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
³ Ijen Geopark Geological Information Centre, Banyuwangi 68465, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Rapid tourism growth in developing countries presents a paradox: it can boost local economies yet often exceeds rural waste-management capacity, driving environmental degradation and uneven welfare gains. This qualitative case study examines how participatory communication and empowerment-oriented institutional design, centred on a Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDes), enable a waste-to-welfare circular economy innovation in Tamansari Village, Banyuwangi, Indonesia. Data were gathered through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis, and analysed using the Communication for Social Change (CFSC) framework. Findings show that sustainable waste management is not solely technical, but a communicative and institutional process unfolding in four linked phases: (1) a catalyst arising from community dissatisfaction with image-led development and unequal welfare distribution; (2) sustained participatory dialogue within BUMDes and across village institutions; (3) collective action integrating a 3R (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle) Waste Processing Facility (TPS3R) with agromaritime livelihoods, including composting and black soldier fly (BSF) maggot cultivation; and (4) continuous participatory evaluation through laboratory tests, demonstration plots, and public feedback. The study highlights a replicable village-level model for circular economy governance.