This study investigates the empowering role of public–private partnerships (PPPs) in the economic sustainability of waste management (ESW) and the circular industry economy (CIE), specifically in the small, rapidly industrialising Emirate of Ajman, UAE. Embracing a circular economy is vital for the sustainability agenda while forging a transformative commitment to planetary health (PH) in a manner that is especially crucial for small states with limited carrying capabilities. A quantitative methodological orientation is employed in a survey-based research design, followed by the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling statistical technique to test the hypothesised relationships. Sampling involved the three sub-populations of government employees (n = 123), managers/employees of private waste collection businesses (n = 106), and employees of private industrial waste generation industries (n = 276). Findings indicate that PPP empowerment positively impacts ESW and contributes to the creation of CIE. Moreover, ESW fosters the growth of CIE in Ajman. Notably, the perspectives of government stakeholders differ from those of non-government actors. This research underscores the significance of PPP empowerment in the development of CIE towards SDGs 11, 12, and 17, emphasising the mediating role of ESW between PPPs and CIE in small, rapidly industrialising states. The study recommends that the Ajman government implement training and social initiatives aimed at aligning the sustainability perspectives of all stakeholders involved in waste management to promote the mutual benefits of “people, places, and planet”.

The increasing debate on sustainable development has raised attention by many global sectors such as policymakers and developers for advanced sustainable cities and the corresponding sustainability impacts on urban transformation. UAE Government has initiated a task to focus on improving air quality, preserving water resources, increasing clean energy, implementing green growth plans, and further enhancing its citizens' quality of life. Ajman is the smallest Emirate and through the The Ajman Municipality and Planning Department has carried out in corporation with the other Governmental authorities started to initiate plans, policies, and initiatives for this purpose. The increase in population, society wellbeing, lifestyle and industrial revolution in the Emirate of Ajman − UAE, resulted in increased challengesinitiated for the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department (AMPD). These challenges align with national and international strategies and goals targeting the urgent environmental, social and economic issues. Therefore, Ajman Municipality has set up a prime aim to embed sustainability through every life aspect and consider sustainability an integral part of its vision and mission. Municipality sustainability performance was enhanced to incorporate sustainability into all activities to ensure wellbeing and happiness and transform the Emirate of Ajman into a sustainable city and its inhabitants blessed with a beautiful, comfortable life. This paper provides an overview of all the challenges and achievements of the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department (AMPD), highlighting the success factors to support initiatives that serve to advance the United Nations' sustainable development agenda. Lessons from the achievements are considered as guidelines for a framework model that can be used for future planning and development.

The UAE's lifestyle has recently developed with increased population resulted in an increased waste from different resources (hazardous and non-hazardous). This has significantly got accumulated during the pandemic. Crisis management is one of the most important management practices that need careful modelling to include planning, framework practices, training, and reserved resources. Naturally, a complete plan for the expected crisis is ready for implementation when a crisis starts to reduce the crisis impacts. Moreover, those plans are to cover the periods before, during and after that crisis. Waste is a resource for many health, environmental, and social problems when not managed. Therefore, this paper aims to introduce elements needed in that combination of waste and crisis management and exploring the main critical elements that need to be contained and carefully studied to enhance modern waste management. The presumed management model examines the waste management practices prior to, during, and after the crisis. COVID-19 pandemics have severely affected all nations and critically disabled many services that governments are providing. Data collected for similar periods before and after the pandemic of the waste, including the amounts, practices, and associated outcomes. A concluded resultwas used to introduce a new framework model for the required initiatives of waste − crisis management. Results showed the importance of using the Waste − Business correlation for high-quality management. During the COVID-19 crises, a significant challenge is the massive quantity of regular waste that has become hazardous and required special treatment adding more cost and resulting in recyclable material reduction. The article has concluded that change in the dynamics of plastic, food, and biomedical waste generation during the same time has, however, stirred the woes of solid waste management. The non-hazardous waste was considered hazardous in many cases to minimize the chances of contamination. Inevitably, plastic has increased as personal protection and healthcare items increased with the reduced recycling process to avoid its adverse effect. Private businesses need to support Governmental efforts to deal with contingency. Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF) were getting less waste due to worries of contaminations and virus spreading. All these challenges and practices had a considerable effect on the Government waste associated budget.

This study investigates the empowering role of public-private partnerships (PPP) in sustainable economic waste management and the circular industry economy, specifically in the small, rapidly industrialising Emirate of Ajman, UAE. Grounded in the principles of sustainable reverse logistics theory, the study focuses on collaboration among key stakeholders: employees in the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, waste-generating industries, and private industrial waste management firms. A quantitative methodological orientation is employed in a survey-based research design, followed by the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling statistical technique to test the hypothesised relationships. Sampling involved the three sub-populations of government employees (n = 123), managers/employees of private waste collection businesses (n = 106), and employees of private industrial waste generation industries (n = 276). Findings indicate that PPP empowerment positively impacts sustainable economic waste management and contributes to the creation of a circular industry economy. Moreover, sustainable economic waste management fosters the growth of the circular industry economy in Ajman. Notably, the perspectives of government stakeholders differ from those of non-government actors. This research underscores the significance of PPP empowerment in the development of a circular industry economy towards SDGs 11, 12 and 17, emphasising the mediating role of sustainable economic waste management between PPPs and the circular industry economy in small, rapidly industrialising states. The study recommends that the Ajman government implement training and social initiatives aimed at aligning the sustainability perspectives of all stakeholders involved in waste management.