smart urban waste management: a comparative analysis of global experiences and a localized model for iran

Rapid urbanization and increasing waste generation have made effective and sustainable urban waste management a central priority of urban governance. in recent years, smart waste management—leveraging digital technologies, data-driven approaches, and social participation—has emerged as an efficient strategy to achieve environmental sustainability. this study adopts a comparative approach to examine policies and strategies of smart waste management in seoul, amsterdam, and dubai across eight key indicators under four dimensions: technology, policy, participation, and circular economy. the research employs a qualitative methodology based on content analysis of relevant documents. findings indicate that the success of leading cities results from the integration of three factors: digitalization of the waste management chain, the presence of mandatory policies and economic incentives, and active citizen participation. consequently, the proposed localized model for iran rests on four pillars: smart technology, regulatory policy, participatory education, and circular economy. this model can provide an operational framework for advancing sustainable waste management in iranian cities.