Co-producing Urban Cleanliness Indicators: A Participatory Methodology for Sustainability Governance in Montevideo

Abstract

This article develops a participatory methodology for constructing urban cleanliness indicators that advances sustainability governance through the co-production of knowledge between citizens and local authorities. The study addresses limitations of predominantly technocratic indicator systems by integrating citizen perception with quantitative analytical tools in the assessment of municipal solid waste management. The methodology was applied in two municipalities of Montevideo, Uruguay, selected for their contrasting socioeconomic characteristics. A total of 203 structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using qualitative and statistical techniques. This approach enabled the identification and prioritization of key variables associated with perceived urban cleanliness conditions. The results showed that perceptions of urban cleanliness are shaped by multiple interrelated dimensions. Significant territorial differences between municipalities supported the need for context-sensitive indicators adapted to local realities. Thus, the study proposes city-level- and municipality-specific-indicators. By incorporating citizen perception into indicator construction, the proposed framework strengthens contextual sensitivity, democratic legitimacy, and participatory environmental governance in urban sustainability monitoring. The article contributes a transferable methodological approach for integrating qualitative social knowledge in the development of urban environmental indicators in Latin American cities.