ABSTRACT
How waste is managed can make a significant contribution to curbing greenhouse gas emissions across Europe, as the new EU policy on the circular economy makes clear. However, given waste management’s record as being historically male-dominated, engineering-focused and having deeply embedded masculinist structures and path dependencies, it is not clear that it is yet up to the task. The author’s involvement in two projects which have received European funding to explore the relationship between gender equality and waste minimisation provides a unique experience from which to reflect on the capacity for, and challenges to, gender mainstreaming in waste management, and its associated environmental benefits. The chapter sets this exploration within the broader context of gender mainstreaming within the EU and explains how, drawing on participant observation, focus group discussions, surveys and the evaluation of innovations, commitment to and awareness of gender equality and sensitivity varied widely depending on prior engagement with gender equality. The analysis leads to the broad conclusion that there appears to be a connection between higher numbers of women in waste management decision-making, better gender equality practices and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, which needs to be nurtured. However, elsewhere there remains intransigence to embracing gender equality in some organisations which does not appear to be eroded by exposure, training, and resources.
