Waste Management for Global Sustainability: A Comparative Analysis of China-US Policies and Practices

• In Event: Regulating the Environment in China and the US: Complexity, Monitoring, and Frameworks

Abstract

This research project is honored to be supported by Professor Mohan Munasinghe, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate recognized for his work on climate change and sustainable development. His guidance reinforces the project’s alignment with global sustainability goals and enhances its credibility as a model for international cooperation.

This study investigates waste management trends and policy approaches in China and the United States, with a particular focus on municipal solid waste (MSW), including plastic and food waste. As two of the world’s largest waste producers and economic powers, both countries face pressing environmental and public health challenges associated with waste generation and disposal. This study compares the policy frameworks, disposal methods, and technological innovations used to manage MSW in China and the U.S., highlighting their respective strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for mutual learning. A central theme of this analysis is the role of waste-related greenhouse gas emissions—particularly methane from landfills—and the potential for bilateral cooperation in developing climate-focused waste management solutions.

The theoretical foundation of the study draws on concepts of international environmental cooperation and sustainable development, particularly the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.” Recognizing the differing institutional capacities and historical contributions to global environmental issues, this research also employs the lens of policy diffusion and transfer to explore how strategies, policies, and technologies migrate between the two national contexts. Through this framework, the study aims to understand not only how China and the U.S. approach domestic waste management, but also how their experiences might inform each other and global best practices.

Methodologically, the study utilizes a comparative case study approach, incorporating an extensive review of academic literature, government policy documents, national and subnational waste statistics, and legal frameworks. It also assesses innovations in waste sorting, recycling, and methane mitigation technologies. The comparison emphasizes three key areas: municipal solid waste management, plastic recycling systems, and food waste reduction efforts. Differences in national approaches—China’s centralized system versus the U.S.’s decentralized, locally-led model—are analyzed for their impact on policy effectiveness, citizen engagement, and measurable environmental outcomes.

Preliminary findings suggest that while the two countries differ significantly in waste composition, regulatory structure, and implementation strategies, they share common challenges in reducing plastic and food waste and in improving landfill practices. Both have initiated promising innovations, and there is considerable room for enhanced bilateral collaboration in areas such as technology transfer, joint research, and shared policy learning. Importantly, this research reveals opportunities for synergistic efforts in reducing landfill methane emissions—a critical climate concern—through cooperative pilot programs or multilateral platforms.

Author

• Hao Sun, Gallaudet University
  Presenting Author