The “wickedness†of trashing the plastics age: limitations of government policy in the case of the Philippines

Characteristics of “wicked†problems have been applied to guide policymakers address complex, multi-faceted dimensions of social-environmental challenges, such as climate change and ecosystem management. Waste management exhibits many of these characteristics, however, literature which frames waste as a “wicked†problem is absent. Addressing this gap, this paper explores the extent to which institutional and legislative frameworks reduce waste generation, and highlights various challenges policymakers face when addressing waste management. Building a case around frameworks in the Philippines, this paper first provides a review of current waste management challenges before applying textual analysis to investigate how residual waste is addressed by existing legislation, and through ongoing legislative amendments and creation by the Philippine Congress. This research reveals discourse exists within the narrative of waste management policy. There are those policymakers with preference for greater command and control style policy and those with greater preference for reduced policy interventions. The former supports waste mitigation through encouraging and incentivising behavioural changes, while the latter emphasises increased reliance upon market-based solutions and technological innovation to reduce waste quantities. This paper ascertains debates surrounding waste management policy, such as those ongoing within Philippine congress, demonstrate that waste management can be considered as a “wicked†problem. This paper concludes successful waste management policies should be measured by reduction in waste quantities, waste volumes and the persistence of waste toxicity, in addition to decreased detrimental impacts to human and environmental health. Parameters such as these may guide policymakers navigate the “wickedness†of waste management.