Analyse comparative de l'efficacité des politiques de recyclage urbain en France et en Belgique

Thesis Abstract

Urban centers in France and Belgium have increasingly prioritized sustainable waste management practices, particularly recycling policies, as critical components of environmental preservation and urban resilience. Despite the overarching national commitment, significant variations in policy implementation, efficacy, and community participation persist, necessitating a comparative assessment to identify best practices and contextual challenges. This study aims to analyze the relative effectiveness of urban recycling policies in France and Belgium, with specific objectives to evaluate policy frameworks, measure recycling rates, analyze stakeholder engagement, and identify contextual factors influencing policy outcomes. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study integrates quantitative analysis of secondary data and surveys alongside qualitative insights from interviews and policy document reviews. The target population comprises municipal authorities, waste management agencies, and residents in ten major urban areas—five in France and five in Belgium—selected through stratified random sampling to ensure representativeness, resulting in a sample of 300 residents, 30 policymakers, and 20 waste management professionals. Quantitative data are collected via structured questionnaires measuring perceptions of policy effectiveness, participation levels, and waste diversion rates, with reliability confirmed through Cronbach’s alpha coefficients exceeding 0.78. Secondary data on recycling rates, policy timelines, and waste management budgets are obtained from government reports and municipal archives. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews are thematically analyzed using NVivo, guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior and Policy Implementation Theory to interpret stakeholder motivations and policy adherence challenges. Data analysis includes descriptive statistics, inferential tests such as t-tests and ANOVA to compare differences between countries and urban areas, and multiple regression analyses to identify determinants of recycling effectiveness. Thematic analysis elucidates contextual factors affecting policy success, including socio-economic variables, urban infrastructure, and civic engagement levels. It is anticipated that France and Belgium will demonstrate differential policy outcomes linked to distinct administrative structures, funding mechanisms, and public awareness campaigns, with regression models revealing key predictors such as community participation rates and policy clarity. The study expects to uncover that while both countries share a common overarching commitment to recycling, the efficacy of policies is significantly mediated by localized factors, notably civic engagement and infrastructural investment. The findings are expected to contribute nuanced insights into the interplay between policy design and implementation context, filling existing gaps in comparative cross-national analyses of urban recycling strategies. The study aims to advance theoretical understanding by applying the Theory of Planned Behavior within a policy implementation framework in environmental management contexts. Main conclusions will emphasize that effective policy implementation in urban recycling relies heavily on tailored stakeholder engagement strategies and infrastructural adaptations to local contexts. It will recommend targeted strategies for improving community participation, enhancing infrastructural capacities, and fostering inter-governmental cooperation. Policy recommendations will encompass urban-specific customization of recycling programs and the integration of behavioral incentives aligned with community values. This research will ultimately offer valuable guidance for policymakers, urban planners, and environmental agencies seeking to enhance recycling efficacy and sustainability through evidence-based reforms, while also contributing to academic discourse on comparative environmental policy analysis. Further research suggestions include longitudinal studies to measure policy impacts over time and expanded cross-national comparisons incorporating additional European countries to generalize findings and refine best practices in urban waste management.