International records / OpenAlex research

Sociological and Legal Definition of Waste: Complementary or Contradictory?

This paper critically examines how “waste” is defined in sociological theory versus legal doctrine, exploring whether these perspectives conflict or complement each other. Sociological approaches drawing on theorists like Mary Douglas, Zygmunt Bauman, Michael Thompson, and Joshua Reno emphasize waste as a social construct, imbued with relative value, stigma, and cultural meaning. Legal frameworks focusing on international instruments such as the Basel Convention and the EU Waste Framework Directive provide formal definitions of waste and criteria when materials become or cease to be waste. We …