Sustainability experiment led by city government: Lessons from Shenzhen’s waste management

Urban waste management has become a key area for collaborative experimental interventions in China. These experiments are often led by city governments, yet little is known about their internal processes and dynamics. This study examines Shenzhen’s “Dandelion Plan,” a city-led sustainability experiment that later became a national model for urban waste governance. Using socio-technical configuration analysis, interviews, and focus groups, this study traces the experiment’s progression, actor roles, challenges, and strategies that shaped its trajectory. Findings show that: 1) diverse of actors, including civil society, businesses, and lower-level governments are mobilized; 2) the city government identifies, engages, and empowers these actors in complementary ways; and 3) actors adjust strategies across stages to anchor, transpose, and amplify outcomes. The case may offer broader insights into how city governments can foster innovation through leadership, coordination, and civic engagement in highly centralized governance contexts.