Effectiveness, inclusiveness and sustainability in the provision of urban services are strengthened not only by technical capacity, but also by a management approach that makes local needs visible and involves different actors in the process. Therefore, urban management today goes beyond being an administrative process in which urban services are planned from the top down, transforming into an area where democratic participation is institutionalised. In services such as waste management, which are directly related to the daily life practices of city dwellers and have a strong behavioural dimension, participation has become a decisive factor in the success of the service. This study examines the theoretical foundations of participation in urban services, exploring the possibilities of transitioning to a model where city dwellers are not merely service recipients but also actors who play a role in the design, implementation, and monitoring of services. To this end, the levels and limits of participation are addressed in light of Arnstein's ladder of participation, Ostrom's co-production approach, and governance literature. Furthermore, pioneering practices around the world, along with the legal framework and local practices in Turkey, are evaluated to complement the literature. The original contribution of the study is the Participatory Urban Waste Management Model, developed by combining technical and social approaches. The model brings together a governance pillar that strengthens decision-making and coordination through Neighbourhood Waste Committees, economic tools that include scoring and incentives, a social inclusion approach that aims to integrate street collectors into the system, and monitoring/feedback mechanisms using smart city technologies. Thus, waste management is reimagined not merely as a logistical municipal activity, but as a social consensus space that generates value at the local level, increases ownership, and strengthens social belonging.