China　has　been　struggling　with　waste　classification　for　decades,　even　after　the　mandatory　implementation　of　relevant　policy　in　2017.　However,　the　causes　of　the　failing　performance　of　waste　classification　in　developing　countries　attract　little　scholarly　attention.　To　fill　this　gap,　this　paper　addresses　why　China　has　been　struggling　with　waste　classification　for　decades　by　establishing　a　stakeholder　theory　framework　using　the　indicators　of　influence,　involvement,　and　interest　to　uncover　the　reality　of　waste　management　as　well　as　complex　interests　among　stakeholders.　The　factors　hindering　the　implementation　of　waste　classification　policy,　which　result　in　the　failure　of　public　collective　action,　are　identified.　These　factors　include　the　established　vagueness　on　the　priority　order　of　waste　management　from　high-level　governments,　the　policy　implementation　gap　from　grassroots-level　governments,　the　powerful　forces　opposing　waste　classification　from　incineration　enterprises,　and　the　weak　strength　of　formal　resource　recyclers　and　non-governmental　organizations.　This　study　contributes　to　presenting　a　realistic　and　comprehensive　scenario　with　muti-agents　of　China＇s　waste　management.　©　2022