Abstract
As the global economy faces environmental crises due to the unsustainable nature
of the linear economy model, small states consider it urgent to manage industrial
waste effectively towards sustainability and circular industry economy creation in
the wake of rapid industrialisation. This study explores sustainable waste
management (SWM) and empirically supports and validates the role of publicprivate partnerships (PPPs) empowerment in sustainability and the creation of a
circular industry economy in small states, considering the case of the Emirate of
Ajman. Commencing with a systematic literature review (SLR), the study builds on
the sustainable reverse logistics theory to arrive at a framework of reference that
cements the interconnection between PPP, sustainable waste management, and
circular industry economy. A mixed complex methodology is adopted, considering
three layers of empirical fieldwork: the exploration of the extent to which sustainable
waste management may be defined to fulfil the dimensions of economic, social, and
environmental aspects, the establishment of survey evidence in support of the
extent to which public-private partnerships may be empowered to support the
creation of a circular industry economy through sustainable waste management of
industrial waste generation, and the validation of the empirically established
framework in empowering public-private partnerships to support the creation of a
circular industry economy through sustainable industrial waste management,
respectively. All three fieldworks engaged the population of Ajman Municipality and
Planning Department as the government organising body for waste management in
the Emirate [n = 180 knowledge workers directly associated with waste
management], 910 industries that generate waste [n = 22,980 registered
employees], and two private businesses in the industrial waste management sector
[n = 145 registered employees]. The first fieldwork, involving a case study, revealed
salient factors in all three areas of environmental, social and economic waste
management sustainability across industries. The second fieldwork, involving
survey research, supports that environmental, economic, and social objectives
successfully define sustainable waste management in small states. The survey
findings also support the role of PPP in SWM and circular economy, as well as the
role of sustainable waste management in circular industrial economy, given that p <
0.05. Firm evidence was established in the validation of fieldwork one and two
empirical observations through fieldwork three, which involved a case study of a
single plastic industry in the Ajman Emirate. A framework for the sustainable
management of industrial waste generation is proposed, building on the
empowerment of public-private partnerships towards the creation of a circular
industry economy. Unique contributions to knowledge are made in defining
sustainable waste management from economic, social, and environmental
perspectives using a 16-indicator model and empirical evidence that explains the
underlying relationship between Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), sustainable
waste management and circular economy practice. It is recommended that the
Ajman government exploit SWM as a mediator for PPP empowerment to create a
circular industrial economy.