All together now: sustainable solid waste management through interlocal collaboration in Mexico

Abstract

This chapter presents a case study of an intermunicipal solid waste management system formed by ten Mexican municipalities from the states of Jalisco and Michoacán - the Southeast Intermunicipal Solid Waste Management System (SIMAR). The system is an example of positive public administration (PPA). Actors from different political and institutional backgrounds, with different resources and service capacities, have learned from each other and generated positive outcomes. This case has highlights important features for PPA, such as building shared values and rules and sustaining effective and efficient collaboration across time. Through this case, public organizations and actors embedded in political and institutional contexts like SIMAR’s may gain insights into overcoming contextual challenges for cross-boundary collaboration.