Decentralization, Institutional Capacity, and Waste Governance: A Comparative Study of Medan and Binjai, North Sumatra
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Abstract
Decentralization under Indonesian Law No. 23/2014 transferred solid waste management authority to municipal governments, yet the translation of this mandate into effective governance outcomes has been uneven across urban settings of different scales and capacities. This study examines how institutional capacity, resource allocation, and governance arrangements shape waste management outcomes in two adjacent North Sumatran cities: Medan, the provincial capital and third-largest city in Indonesia, and Binjai, a secondary municipality of approximately 300,000 residents. Through a comparative case study design, the research draws on in-depth interviews with 28 informants, document analysis of regional waste management plans and budget allocations, and secondary data from the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN). Findings reveal that while both cities have expanded formal collection coverage over the 2019–2023 period, substantial disparities persist in collection rates, infrastructure quality, and private sector integration. Medan demonstrates greater structural capacity but faces coordination fragmentation across its 21 sub-districts; Binjai exhibits stronger inter-agency coherence but is constrained by limited budgetary resources and landfill capacity. The study identifies three institutional mechanisms that mediate the decentralization–outcome relationship: budget adequacy, inter-agency coordination, and community-based waste governance integration. Theoretical contributions to the decentralization and urban governance literature are discussed, alongside practical recommendations for strengthening waste governance in secondary cities of the Global South.
Keywords: decentralization; waste governance; institutional capacity; Medan; Binjai; North Sumatra; secondary cities; Indonesia
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