Transforming Waste into Worth
A PPP-Based Framework for Waste-to-Energy Projects in Punjab, Pakistan
Abstract
Abstract Views: 40
This study investigates the primary obstacles hindering WtE implementation and proposes a context-specific Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework tailored to the institutional and financial needs of Punjab. Using reflexive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 21 stakeholders in the form of government agencies, private sector investors, waste management companies and technical consultants, the study reveals that there are six underlying determinants of success; implementation capacity transcending legislative provisions, feedstock reliability as operational base, fair allocation of risk to enable bankability, policy stability to enable investment confidence, non-negotiable government support mechanisms and community engagement addressing stakeholder acceptance. The suggested framework focuses on institutional reinforcement via capacity building and coordination of agencies, novel financial structuring via blended finance tools, and participatory governance via crystal clear stakeholder involvement. The results would add new information on trust-building processes, the resource optimal risk allocation methods, and institutional capacity issues that are necessary to develop sustainable Waste-PPP projects in the environment of developing countries.
Keywords:
Municipal Solid Waste Management, Public Private Partnership, Risk Allocation, Sustainable Infrastructure, Thematic Analysis, Waste-to-EnergyReferences
Almeile, A. M., Chipulu, M., Ojiako, U., Vahidi, R., & Marshall, A. (2024). Project-focussed literature on public-private partnership (PPP) in developing countries: A critical review. Production Planning & Control, 35(7), 683-710. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2022.2123408
Bhaskar, R. (2013). A realist theory of science. Routledge.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). To saturate or not to saturate? Questioning data saturation as a useful concept for thematic analysis and sample-size rationales. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 13(2), 201-216. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1704846
Cao, G., Guo, C., & Li, H. (2022). Risk analysis of public–private partnership waste-to-energy incineration projects from the perspective of rural revitalization. Sustainability, 14(13), 8205. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14138205
Cheng, M., Liu, L., Cheng, X., & Tao, L. (2024). Risk analysis of public-private partnership waste-to-energy incineration projects in China: a hybrid fuzzy DEMATEL-ISM approach. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 31(11), 4255-4280. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-06-2022-0546
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2016). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Sage Publications.
Gad, N. A., El-Dash, K., Attia, T. M., & Dokhan, S. A. (2024). Toward sustainable waste-to-energy solutions: Risk allocation and technological innovations in public-private partnerships. HBRC Journal, 20(1), 829-847. https://doi.org/10.1080/16874048.2024.2384784
Gebrekidan, T. K., Gebremedhin, G. G., Weldemariam, A. K., & Teferi, M. K. (2024). Municipal solid waste management in Ethiopia–physical and chemical compositions and generation rate: systematic review. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 74(12), 861-883. https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2024.2416588
Huang, J., Liu, S., Plaza, A., & Zhou, W. (2018). Creating an enabling environment for public–private partnerships in waste-to-energy projects. Sustainable Development Working Papers. https://dx.doi.org/10.22617/WPS189766-2
Irwin, T. (2007). Government guarantees: Allocating and valuing risk in privately financed infrastructure projects. World Bank Publications.
Khahro, S. H., Ali, T. H., Hassan, S., Zainun, N. Y., Javed, Y., & Memon, S. A. (2021). Risk severity matrix for sustainable public-private partnership projects in developing countries. Sustainability, 13(6), 3292. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063292
Lincoln, Y. S. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry (Vol. 75). Sage.
Liu, J., Love, P. E., Smith, J., Regan, M., & Palaneeswaran, E. (2015). Review of performance measurement: implications for public–private partnerships. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 5(1), 35-51. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-12-2013-0070
Mazher, K. M. (2019). Risk assessment and allocation model for public-private partnership infrastructure projects in Pakistan (Doctoral dissertation).
Mazher, K. M. (2025). Review of studies on risk allocation and sharing in public-private partnership projects for infrastructure delivery. Frontiers in Built Environment, 11, 1505891. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1505891
Meegoda, J. N., Chande, C., & Bakshi, I. (2025). Biodigesters for sustainable food waste management. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(3), 382. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22030382
Moore, N. (2012). The politics and ethics of naming: questioning anonymisation in (archival) research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 15(4), 331-340. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2012.688330
Mundial, B. (2020). What a waste: An updated look into the future of solid waste management. Banco Mundial, 20.
Osei-Kyei, R., Tam, V., Ma, M., & Mashiri, F. (2021). Critical review of the threats affecting the building of critical infrastructure resilience. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 60, 102316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102316
Patton, M. Q. (2014). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice. Sage publications.
Ramachandran, S., Chandramohan, B. P., & Sunitha, S. (2024). Anthropogenic methane emission in India: Sources of methane reduction through circular economy for mitigating climate change. African Journal of Biomedical Research, 27(5s), 347-359. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5087878
Wang, H. (2019). The new development Bank and the Asian infrastructure investment Bank: China's ambiguous approach to global financial governance. Development and Change, 50(1), 221-244. https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12473
Wang, L., & Zhang, X. (2018). Bayesian analytics for estimating risk probability in PPP waste-to-energy projects. Journal of Management in Engineering, 34(6), 04018047. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000658
Yu, Y., Chan, A. P., Chen, C., & Darko, A. (2018). Critical risk factors of transnational public–private partnership projects: Literature review. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 24(1), 04017042. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000405
Zafar, A. M., Shahid, S., Nawaz, M. I., Mustafa, J., Iftekhar, S., Ahmed, I., ... & Souissi, S. (2024). Waste to energy feasibility, challenges, and perspective in municipal solid waste incineration and implementation: A case study for Pakistan. Chemical Engineering Journal Advances, 18, 100595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceja.2024.100595
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Trends and Innovations in Business & Social Sciences

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

