Baseline assessment of waste management practices and opportunities for smart waste technologies in traditional markets in Indonesia

Inadequate waste management in traditional markets remains a persistent challenge in many low- and middle-income settings, with important implications for environmental sanitation and public health. This study assessed vendor-level waste management practices and identified context-specific opportunities for integrating smart waste technologies. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted between June and August 2022 in three traditional markets in Indonesia representing urban, secondary city, and coastal contexts. Data were collected from 288 vendors using structured interviews and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi-square tests. Significant differences were observed across markets in access to waste disposal facilities, waste storage practices, disposal methods, and wastewater management systems ( p < 0.05). While access to disposal sites was relatively high in some locations, waste segregation facilities were largely absent. Uncovered containers and informal storage methods were widely used, and variations in disposal and drainage systems reflected differences in infrastructure and service provision. These findings highlight system-level gaps in waste management practices that may contribute to environmental health risk pathways. Smart waste technologies, such as IoT-enabled bins and digital monitoring systems, offer opportunities to improve waste collection efficiency and sanitation; however, their implementation must align with local infrastructure and governance conditions. This study provides baseline empirical evidence to inform context-sensitive strategies for improving waste management in traditional markets.