Local resistance processes, emotions, and place attachment: a sociological analysis of waste landfill conflicts

This study investigates local resistance processes in the context of social and public acceptance, focusing on the role of emotions and place-based dynamics in environmental conflict. Drawing on the relationship between science, technology, and society, the analysis examines how emotional ties to place, particularly place attachment and place identity, and perceptions of territorial transformation shape collective opposition to contested infrastructures. Emotions related to changes in the local territory are used as a key analytical lens to interpret patterns of resistance and rejection toward public environmental policies. Based on qualitative interviews and document analysis, the study identifies two main factors underpinning local resistance processes: trust in institutions and experts, and political and security-related perceptions associated with decision-making procedures. The case study focuses on two waste landfill sites, whose historical, symbolic, and environmental significance for the local community generated long-lasting opposition and structured public discourse. The findings show how past experiences, collective memory, and perceived injustice reinforced emotional responses and sustained resistance over time. By adopting a sociological perspective on emotions, territory, and institutional trust, the study contributes to social and public acceptance theory by offering a more comprehensive interpretation of local resistance processes beyond simplified Nimby explanations.