Keywords
Social Technologies
Traditional Knowledge
Environmental Education
Sustainability
How to Cite
Abstract
Indigenous communities face complex barriers in solid waste management due to inadequate infrastructure and the tension between ancestral knowledge systems and modern waste streams. This systematic review, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA protocol, identifies management practices and technologies applied to solid waste management in Indigenous territories. The findings reveal a paradox: although these communities possess cultural frameworks centered on prevention and circularity, they face significant challenges in managing industrialized waste, often resulting in practices such as open burning. The analysis indicates that the effectiveness of waste management solutions depends on the activation of environmental and social Technologies – such as intergenerational environmental education and community engagement – which act as prerequisites for the successful implementation of physical infrastructure. It is concluded that sustainability depends on the transition from top-down models to co-management approaches, recognizing Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) as an active framework for innovation and socio-environmental co-production.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Denise M. S. Alves, Claudio Luis de Araujo Neto