This article, published in *Waste Management Journal* and *Waste Management and Research*, examines the challenges of solid waste management in developing countries, focusing on the increasing waste generation, the financial burden on municipal budgets, and the lack of understanding of factors affecting waste management. The study analyzed literature from 2005 to 2011, primarily from two major scientific journals, and aimed to identify stakeholders and their actions, as well as influential factors in over 30 urban areas across 22 developing countries on three continents. The research used a combination of methods, including literature review, existing databases, field observations, structured interviews, workshop exercises, and questionnaires, to assess stakeholders and factors influencing waste management systems. The findings provide a comprehensive list of relevant stakeholders and a set of factors that highlight the main causes of system failures, offering valuable insights for planning, changing, or implementing waste management systems in cities. Key factors identified include awareness, knowledge, and infrastructure, which are crucial for effective waste management.This article, published in *Waste Management Journal* and *Waste Management and Research*, examines the challenges of solid waste management in developing countries, focusing on the increasing waste generation, the financial burden on municipal budgets, and the lack of understanding of factors affecting waste management. The study analyzed literature from 2005 to 2011, primarily from two major scientific journals, and aimed to identify stakeholders and their actions, as well as influential factors in over 30 urban areas across 22 developing countries on three continents. The research used a combination of methods, including literature review, existing databases, field observations, structured interviews, workshop exercises, and questionnaires, to assess stakeholders and factors influencing waste management systems. The findings provide a comprehensive list of relevant stakeholders and a set of factors that highlight the main causes of system failures, offering valuable insights for planning, changing, or implementing waste management systems in cities. Key factors identified include awareness, knowledge, and infrastructure, which are crucial for effective waste management.