In principle, the goal of public participation is to give each and every member of society the opportunity to participate. Local decision-making processes should generally allow for direct participation by the public, and other decision-making processes should also do so as far as this is feasible.
This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 recommends encouraging non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations and women's, youth and public interest group programmes, in collaboration with local municipal authorities, to mobilize community support for waste reuse and recycling. Agenda 21 also recommends launching focused campaigns to encourage active community participation involving women's and youth groups in the management of waste, particularly household waste.