Circular Economy: Recent Trends in Global Perspective

Circular Economy policy landscape has been able to create a focus and expanded noticeably over the last two decades. The thought process around Circular Economy started in the 1970s. The use of the term “circular economy” introduced in early 2000. The EU, China, and India have been the global front-runners in this process. In Europe, 2011 was the starting point of discussion regarding Circular Economy with reference to the higher prices of commodities and the EU initiated its ambitious action plans for CE Implementation very recently in 2015. Subsequently its member states and European cities started adopting CE strategies. The Circular Economy Promotion Law was introduced by China in 2009. Subsequently in 2013, a number of policies and strategies supporting CE implementation and Extended Producer Responsibility in the year 2016 were introduced. Similarly, a number of legislation were established since the year 1974 based on resource conservation and environmental protection. Subsequently there was a slow change in the focus and ultimate in 2014 the Swachh Bharat Mission and in 2016 six waste management legislation were introduced based on 5R and Circular Economy. Several UN initiatives, namely, Paris 2015, being the latest, the UN Global Compact, the eight UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2000–2015, and now the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 all are supporting the CE concepts and implementation. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agendas are helpful to push Circular Economy policy in countries while scientific and technological advancement is a major area of concern to implementation of SDG 2030. Studies shows that significant gaps and scopes exist to bridge the scientific and technological divide between developed and developing countries. Experts from 13 countries discuss on various issues of implementation of Circular Economy in this book. This chapter will present glimpses of the findings of the experts in this book as well from the book, Circular Economy: Global Perspective. A comparative analysis of the legislative instruments in these 32 countries has also been presented in the study.

Sustainable development has gained recently lot of interest and priority to preserve and maintain the natural equilibrium broken by human extensive activities. In particular, this has led to new paradigm: circular economy. It is described under different terms such as biomimicry, industrial ecology, natural capitalism, blue economy, regenerative design, and closing loops. Particularly sensitive and aware of the depletion of his natural resources due to anthropogenic factors, Morocco is engaged in the way of remediation through different sectors, known for their direct impact on the environment and health. The main activities that retain attention of the national strategy include best management of solid waste (that includes municipal wastes, plastics waste, e-wastes, industrial and hazardous wastes, bio medical wastes, and construction and demolition wastes), wastewater and sludge, agricultural waste, end-of-life of vehicle wastes, renewable energy and electricity. To achieve sustainable development, natural resources have to be preserved and their exploitation has to be rationalized. Also, natural resources consumption should be rationalized and resource recovery should be maximized. This approach needs to be supported by the national legislative framework.

Moroccan approach is based on existing legislation guided by different legal texts concerning the environment and backed by different national plans related to different sectors. This have paved the way to the involvement of private sectors (NGOs) to contribute in public–private project (PPP) in order to achieve targets in terms of investments and efficiency. The objective of this chapter is to provide and to overview the status of implementation of Circular Economy in Morocco supported by 3R (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) concepts. Results of this strategy are reflected in the degree of achievement of the projects currently ongoing or planned for each sector.

This paper presents, discusses and analyses Circular Economy (CE) in Tanzania by focusing on waste management in particular organics, plastics and agricultural types of wastes. CE is a term used beyond sustainable development agenda in many countries such as China and EU. Economic growth, which uses the orthodox neo-classical economist concepts that was promoted by the IMF and the World Bank, is not sustainable for natural resources utilization in developing countries.

The CE admits the existing of a nature that is finite, and resources are circulated and moved from a linear economic model. This paper defines the concept of CE and two schools of thought. CE is discussed: system thinking (open systems) and social biology, and uses a theory on self-differential system that is operative closed. Waste is an Autopoietic system and CE is seen from a closure operative system lens and social inclusions of waste pickers who are the main actors in solid waste management in developing countries where they operate informal and are not recognized by municipal authorities. Waste pickers or scavengers are part and parcel of CE in these countries. CE is redefined in Tanzanian context. This paper points out most societies in developing economic which had recycled, reused and remanufactured wastes before the CE concept appeared on the global agenda in developed countries.

The CE has not penetrated at macro-policies, regulations and strategies in developing countries and has not been put in action as in China and European Union (EU). Lessons can be learned from these countries on how CE can be applied in developing countries by considering the socio-economic and cultural situations. Overhauling of policies, regulations and strategies are required that are aligned to current macro-policies economic growth and poverty reduction that has been implemented in Tanzania since 2005.

Regulations that are incentive driven, with technological innovation which is the missing link in the country development, and behavioural changes are essential to CE by inclusion of informal waste recycling and reuse especially women in organized and formalized waste management system. Innovation is the key to CE and national development shall support and with financial imputes without donor funds. There are opportunities in CE for the country transformation which can inspire and stimulate youths to engage in, for example, waste recycling, industries in utilization of agriculture wastes and urban centres in recycling centres by integrating waste scavengers/pickers in upstream and downstream of solid waste management. At the same time, composting and waste to energy from dumpsites are developed for producing fertilizers and energy to minimize greenhouse emissions.

CE is able to create innovation and entrepreneurship in all sectors of the economy. Cases of Katani Gas Project and Pyrolysis of waste to energy from Dar es Salaam dumpsite are presented as examples to be followed by stakeholders in government, private sector and NGO as key promoters in CE. The existing research and technology development institutions like Centre of Agricultural Mechanization and Rural Technology (CARMATEC), Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization (TIRDO) and National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) should work and develop technologies and innovations which are compatible with CE agenda.

The government is recommended to implement CE at macro-, meso- and micro-levels using local knowledge, skills, experiences, innovations and finance to strength management of wastes and natural resources considering the socio-economic and cultural aspects of the country development vision.

Tunisia has taken up many environmental challenges by setting up major waste management projects. Tunisia is among the first countries in Africa to create several controlled landfills and wastewater treatment plants since early 90s (MARH 2005). Despite recalcitrant environmental problems, Tunisia continues to position itself among the 50 countries benefiting from an evolving environmental policy and launches several green entrepreneurship projects and programs.

Indeed, the Tunisian government started its initiative to set up its national strategy by the creation of the National Agency for Waste Management “ANGed” which is a non-administrative public establishment (decree n ° 2005–2317, Aug 22, 2005). The specific objectives of ANGed are: (1) Mastering the management of different types of waste, (2) Strengthening efforts to create job positions relating to waste management, (3) Encouraging material and energy recovery of waste, (4) Encouraging the participation of the private sector in the field of waste management, (5) Improving communication, consultation, awareness, and mastery of data in the field of waste management, and (6) Improving the institutional, legal, and financial management framework for waste.

In support of this strategy, Tunisian researchers play a preponderant role in the implementation of collaborative projects facilitating the implementation of concrete actions in relation to the circular economy. As a main example, we can cite the SwitchMed initiative which affects the Tunisian economic sectors (Textile industry, environmental protection against plastic waste, tourism, and agriculture) and contributes to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8, 9, 12 and 17). This program supports policy makers, eco-innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, industries, start-ups and entrepreneurs from the southern Mediterranean countries, who have identified job creation and the protection of natural resources as priority issues which also contribute to their economic stability.

Tunisia presents a particular situation of environmental vulnerability because of its limited natural resources (in particular water), its particularly constraining climate by its aridity and its strong variability, and the rapid desertification of its territory. This is why Tunisia has tried to get involved very early in a pre-emptive policy of protecting its natural resources and its environment without compromising its development objectives. In fact, Tunisia expressed her support for international processes on climate change and ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992 (Morocco and Algeria) and joined the Kyoto Protocol on January 22, 2003. Tunisia submitted two national communications to the UNFCCC, the first in 2001 and the second in 2011. Tunisia also established a Designated National Authority in 2005. The country has already developed a number of national adaptation strategies as well as sectoral strategies, such as the Adaptation Strategy for Agriculture and Ecosystems to Climate Change in 2007, the Strategy for Adaptation of Coastal Areas to Climate Change in 2008, and the Strategy for Adaptation of the Public Health Sector to Climate Change in 2010. Tunisia is currently finalizing a National Strategy on Climate Change, building on and updating previous work.

The circular economy is not new to South Africa. As a country facing high levels of unemployment, poverty, and inequality, end-of-life products are often repaired and reused, driven largely by an active informal sector. As a water scarce country, grey water has been recycled and reused for decades, with returns making up 13% of South Africa’s available water. And facing an energy crisis since 2007, renewable energy has grown to 11% of South Africa’s energy supply. While there is certainly much progress still to be made in scaling-up activities in the waste, energy, and water sectors, this chapter provides insights into some of the initiatives already in place to catalyse South Africa’s transition to a more circular economy. In addition to the sector opportunities, the chapter also explores the role of government, business, and science, technology, and innovation in unlocking a circular economy in South Africa. It is acknowledged that further circular economy opportunities in resource-intensive sectors such as agriculture, human settlements, transport, and manufacturing need to be identified, and that more needs to be done in addressing “early stage” product design and resource demand. However, based on a growing body of knowledge, it is clear that the circular economy provides opportunities to address issues of national resource scarcity and security through sustainable resource utilisation. It provides opportunities to move the country forward in its local and international environmental commitments and development objectives. And it provides very real opportunities to strengthen local manufacturing, reduce dependence on resource imports, unlock new economic opportunities, improve the sustainability of other investment areas, create jobs, and position South Africa in the short term for a post-COVID19 green economic recovery and in the long term for a post-mining economy.

In India, waste generation is increasing due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. For ensuring the safety of environment and sustainable management of waste, the statutory guidelines, rules, and principles are set. It is very important that how effectively these rules are implemented. The Environment Protection Act (EPA) in 1986 and subsequently a number of other rules supporting sustainable management of wastes were established in India to protect environmental quality and reduction of pollution from all potential sources in India. Based on the 3Rs (reduce–reuse–recycle) and circular economy concepts, the recirculation of wastes through different recycling and recovery techniques developing business models is being promoted in the country. Several technologies have been in practice in India for effective utilization of waste, e.g., waste-to-energy, transfer–storage–dispose–facility (TSDF), composting, biomethanation, co-processing, and a few other processes which are playing vital role. The successful management of waste has turned into business models in waste management streams introducing integrated waste management facilities, which supports the treatment of multiple wastes at single facility, with time and cost effectiveness. India has experienced a robust economic performance in recent decades and could enable a significant reduction in poverty levels, citizen’s better accessibility to energy, and enhanced accessibility to clean energy across the economy with a 9% growth rate target. India is on a growth path to achieve a USD 5 trillion economies by 2024–2025, making it the fastest-growing biggest democracy and large economy worldwide. However, the very recent pandemic COVID-19 in 2020 probably retards the growth to certain extent. The Government of India (GoI) in 2018 announced a target of renewable capacities of 227 GW to be achieved by 2022 and 275 GW to be achieved by 2027. However, the electricity generated from WtE plants is only 66.4 MW per day, of which the 52 MW per day is generated in Delhi by its three existing plants. The water in surface and ground water courses is being polluted by the discharge of untreated sewage. Sewage generated is 38,000 million liter per day but the treatment capacity exists for nearly 12,000 million liter per day. However, 100% utilization of the existing capacity has not been achieved due to operation and maintenance problem. Sewage discharge without treatment in some cities is a big challenge in India. The main initiatives supporting the circular economy implementation are Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) initiated in 2014, establishing set of six documents on waste management rules, incorporation of zero defects and zero effect (ZED) in SMEs, renewable energy targets, and the very recent release of draft of Nations Resource Efficiency 2019 and draft Battery Waste Management Rules 2020. The present study focuses on the trend followed in India regarding the implementation of circular economy and resource circulation.

The Philippines is an archipelago that is located in Southeast Asia. It is composed of 7641 islands with a total land area of 342.353 km². The country has three major groups of islands, namely Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Both Luzon and Mindanao take a large portion of the country’s surface area while the rest are small islands.

According to the World Bank, the Philippine economy is one of the most dynamic in the East Asia Pacific region citing contributing factors like increasing urbanization, middle class growth, and percentage of younger population. The dynamic characteristics of the economy have been rooted to a stronger consumer demand that is supported by a vigorous labor market and healthy remittances. The resource efficiency of the Philippines compared to Asia Pacific Region is simulated by the UNESCAP in terms of domestic material consumption, energy intensity, and water efficiency. The Philippines could reduce 41.75% domestic material consumption (DMC) intensity from 2000 to 2016, which is a significant indication of contribution towards Circular Economy. The simulation revealed that in 2016, the Philippines was more resource efficient in terms of usage of material resources compared to the Asia-Pacific regional average. The Republic Act (RA) 9003 promulgated in 2001 provided an ecological solid waste management program in the country consisting of processes such as segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment, and disposal of solid wastes. This has featured a national target of establishing Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) in all the 42,000 barangay units. Waste management in the Philippines is controlled by both formal and informal recyclers being the key players dealing with E-waste, plastics waste, and other types of wastes in the country. A national initiative utilizing the principle of public and private partnership (PPP) has been adopted to create safe E-waste transport, storage, and disposal (TSD) for the benefit of the informal waste sectors in the country. The Philippines is already a party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to the Hyogo Framework for Action, and strongly committed to the Sendai Framework. By 2030, the country has committed to reduce by 70% all the carbon emissions coming from the energy, transport, waste, forestry, and industry sectors. The Green Energy Option Programs in the Philippines provided option to consumers to choose renewable energy as their source of power while the country fostered three guiding principles in all the areas of energy development, namely innovation, resilience, and sustainability. Water recycling and conservation activities in the country are propagated by enjoining the public through the conduct of aggressive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns. The government has developed programs and initiatives in enhancing conservation of water and efficient procedures in averting water shortages, namely rainwater harvesting facilities, establishing water recycling technologies in the country through the National Water Resources Board (NWRB). There are other initiatives to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and resource recovery in waste sectors, water sectors, industry sectors, and others that help Philippines to move towards implementation of Circular Economy while there are many challenges. This study reviews the situation and presents the status of the implementation of circular economy strategies in the Philippines considering the targets, implementation status, legislative support, achievements, and the future plans.

According to the State Report “Environmental management of the Russian Federation in 2018” 7.27 billion tons of waste was generated in the Russian Federation in 2018. A significant part of this volume is made up of mining and processing waste. The volume of solid municipal waste in 2018 amounted to 53.9 million tons. Only 10% of this volume was sent for recycling. To date the main method of waste management for the Russian Federation is a disposal. The solution to this difficult situation is the economic transformation to the principles of a circular economy. Some of them are already actively developing in the Russian Federation, for example, sharing technologies, the introduction of BAT, the organization of separate waste collection systems, etc. However, many effective tools of a circular economy, such as, industrial symbiosis, recycling are currently not widely used in the Russian Federation. The reason for this is the lack of a systematic approach to creating a waste processing industry, a required institutional base and the presence of remote settlements. At the same time, certain steps are being taken in the Russian Federation towards improving of waste management according to the principle of a circular economy. For example, in 2015 Russia introduced the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility, which makes producers to recycle of their goods that have lost their consumer properties. This mechanism should lead to a decrease of waste generation and ensure their maximum involvement in the economy. Since 2017 the disposal of some types of waste containing recoverable materials has been prohibited. Another mechanism is the creation of eco-industrial parks. In the Russian Federation the creation of 70 eco-industrial parks is planned as basic elements in addressing waste management problems. In eco-industrial parks technological links are formed between production facilities through the exchange (interchange) of resources, which can also be used as waste. At the same time all participants in the eco-industrial parks implement the principle of collective benefit from this cooperation.

The article provides information on the project for the creation of an eco-industrial park in Novokuznetsk, in which the main resources are waste from coal mining, metallurgical industries, and energy generating companies. The implementation of the project to create an eco-industrial park in Novokuznetsk will make it possible to involve more than five million tons of waste annually into processing and produce more than four million tons of various types of products. The main tasks that can be solved in the eco-industrial park are the reduction of resource consumption and the reduction of the environmental impact by industrial symbiosis between participants, obtaining economic benefits from such cooperation and sustainable development of the regions.

In Russia, in modern conditions, the relevance of the transition to the principles of a circular economy is growing. However, it’s still no legislation directly regulating this process, and only some legislative acts could be considered as indirect attribution to the legislative framework for the circular economy principles’ implementation. First of all, this refers to the sphere of waste management. The priorities for the development of the waste management system are defined in the federal law “On Waste of Production and Consumption” and in the strategy for the development of industry for the processing, utilization, and disposal of waste of production and consumption for the period up to 2030. The goals of the strategy are the prevention and reduction of waste generation and involvement of waste as secondary materials in the process of production. Today, the main problems in the sphere of waste management in Russia are as follows: disposal of waste in unauthorized dumps; lack of a sufficient number of waste management facilities; lack of sorting and processing facilities; undeveloped system for separate waste collection and secondary resources market. The hierarchy of waste management methods is officially focused on maximum use of secondary materials in production processes. But at the moment, the contribution of the waste management industry to the gross domestic product of the Russian Federation is very low (about 3%). Nowadays, a large number of valuable secondary resources stay within the flow of municipal solid waste and go to landfills. Currently, the regional operators in the field of MSW management are responsible for organizing of secondary resources circulation. In the absence of material interest, the percentage of recycling for the main types of secondary resources (paper, plastic, glass) remains quite low. In accordance with the adopted federal legislation, the principle of extended producer responsibility will be implemented in Russia, which expected to increase the percentage of involvement of secondary resources in production cycle. Also, one of the directions of development of the circular economy related to industrial waste is the creation of eco-industrial parks in the regions of Russia.

The article is devoted to the transition processes of Russia to a circular economy. A comparative analysis of waste accumulation and its treatment in Russia, as well as in developed and developing countries is carried out. In the Russian Federation there has been a steady increase in the total amount of waste for the last decade, the vast majority of which is generated as a result of mining. At the same time, just over half of the total production and consumption waste amount is disposed of. An analytical review of current ideas about the circular economy is represented.

The concept of a circular economy emphasizes the need to use raw materials in a cycle that includes the sphere of consumption. It is assumed that such a cycle can be closed within the framework of eco-industrial structures (parks, networks, etc.). In natural ecological systems, the wastes of some organisms are used by other organisms, i.e. a self-regulating biogeochemical cycle of substances is carried out. А consciously organized and human-controlled technogenic cycle of raw materials, products, and waste should be the basis of circular economy. The prospects of resource cycles introduction in the Russian Federation are evaluated.

The examples of the raw material complex use are analyzed, including the scheme for apatite-nepheline ore processing, thermal processing of fuel (coal, oil, shale), and pyrolysis of oil. The recycling of production waste into secondary material or energy resources is considered as an important area of resource cycle optimization. The article describes the resource cycle of waste stream formation in the timber industry. The prerequisites for using the circular economy model in the Russian Federation are considered in the article. In particular, it points to the specifics of the country’s energy balance (a high share of renewable energy sources due to the potential of hydrogenation); to a significant area of forests that make a huge contribution to ensuring the stability of the world’s biosystem; to state support (stimulation of the introduction of energy-saving and resource-saving technologies). The goals of the 2018 Russian government are analyzed. National project “Ecology,” including effective management of production and consumption waste, including the elimination of all unauthorized landfills identified on January 1, 2018 within the borders of cities; drastic reduction of air pollution in major industrial centers; improving the quality of drinking water for the population, including residents of localities that are not equipped with modern centralized water supply systems; conservation of biological diversity. The national project provides for the implementation of the Federal project “Introduction of the best available technologies.” A prerequisite for a closed-loop economy in Russia is also the world’s leadership in reducing the volume of associated petroleum gas flaring. In addition to technological needs, gas is almost completely used in petrochemical plants for the production of polymers.

Specific tasks have been set for the transition of the country’s economy to a circular economy, which consists in increasing the level of reuse of municipal waste; increasing the level of reuse of packaging; banning landfills of any recyclable and biodegradable waste. The implementation of these tasks requires a change in the way of thinking, a breakthrough in such creative disciplines as design, advertising, and digital technology.

The article notes that most manufacturers in Russia make decisions in the short term, relying only on making profits in the near future, and often deny the viability of a cyclical approach, citing their experience. However, the transition to a cyclical economy is the only way for development to take into account and minimize environmental consequences when creating a product, rather than fighting them after the product is released.

The article summarizes the results of pilot projects to improve the collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal of waste, that is, the global garbage reform. It is shown that the country is learning to handle its waste in a new way, that a fundamentally new system is being actively formed, in which most of the garbage will be sent for recycling. Consequently, the foundations of a cyclical economy are being developed.

The concept of circular economy builds upon more sustainable and efficient use of resources in different sectors of economy. Assessment of situation requires analyzing a combination of factors that influence development of economy toward circularity and resource efficiency. The given study focuses on a number of energy and environmental indicators in the context of developing circular economy in Georgia. As regards the energy dimension of the topic, implementation of the circular economy model is closely related to the energy security of the country. Particularly important is the development of renewable energy sources. The greater is the share of renewable energy the higher will be the resource conservation, thus enhancing resource efficiency. The study reviews different energy factors and their key trends in 2007–2020, such as energy intensity of the population, energy intensity of gross domestic product, total amount of greenhouse gases emissions per year, carbon intensity per capita population, carbon intensity per capita gross domestic product, gross domestic product per capita population, net consumption of electricity per capita population, individual and all sort of vehicles per capita population, and other important issues, which affect national energy and carbon intensity indicators and are related to the world’s most painful problem, climate change, and global warming. Furthermore, the study examines some essential processes and developments in the country’s environmental sector that have direct impact on the uptake of the circular economy model and its evolution in the country. The study aims to provide an insight into the main trends and existing frameworks that can foster the development of circular economy. This includes analyses of the indicators, legislative acts, and strategic documents in the fields of energy and environment, particularly waste management. It is important to note that the concept of green economy as well as promoting renewable energy has been high on the strategic agenda of the country’s development in recent periods. Efforts have been made to achieve progress in both directions through the national as well as international initiatives. However, while advancing green economy is a well-recognized strategic priority effective implementation of relevant measures and activities across sectors will be important to utilize the benefits and foster the development of circular economy model. Circular economy is a relatively new concept for Georgia and its implementation is at a very initial stage. Some processes ongoing in the energy and environmental fields can contribute to fostering more active uptake of the concept of circular economy; however, the success will largely depend on the magnitude and effectiveness of the implementation of practical measures, their monitoring and sustainability. Some initial steps undertaken at the legislative and regulatory level should be commended, and it is hoped that enhanced efforts and more active implementation activities will lead to expanding the application of circular economy practices in the country.

The adoption of the Waste Management Code in 2015 is Georgia’s continuous effort to fully harmonize the EU-Georgia Association Agreement in the above-mentioned sphere. The article examines Waste Management of Georgia, led by three different companies and role of municipalities (63 municipalities in total) in waste management process. The amount of waste collected by each company per year is discussed as well as type and area of polygons they are distributed to, including the information regarding the share of cities and district centers in the total amount of waste produced in Georgia. One of the chapters evaluates the flow of such materials in Georgia as plastic, wood, paper, and other types of metal products, with list of all the companies that produce this type of material in the country. The article discusses the existence of various batteries (including car batteries) in the country market, the consumption of which creates certain types of hazardous or non-hazardous waste containing carcinogenic components such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and others. Also, the problems of storage and processing of used tires imported from different countries in Georgia have been assessed. In 2016, technical regulation on hazardous waste management was adopted based on the Code, which considers the origin, storage, and disposal of this type of waste, among them transportation problems and recycling. It is worth to mention that all the data presented in the article are provided by the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

Bornholm is a Danish island of approximately 40,000 inhabitants in the Baltic Sea, which has adopted a vision to be waste-free by 2032, by which time the island’s waste incineration plant will be decommissioned. Because of this vision, waste management strategies are to completely transition from landfilling and waste incineration as treatment options. Instead, 100 percent of waste is to be recycled, reused (including preparation for reuse), and prevented in accordance with national objectives and European framework conditions provided in legislation and policies such as the Circular Economy Action Plan. If this were to succeed, it would represent the first successful transition of its kind by an industrialized community. Currently, approximately 75,000 metric tons of waste on Bornholm is treated annually, of which 7% is landfilled, 28% is incinerated, and 65% is sent for recycling.

This chapter details the waste management situation on Bornholm in terms of infrastructure and waste flows, while also showing the different innovative projects and initiatives that are planned and underway to achieve the waste-free 2032 vision and reaching more circularity. A particular emphasis in the chapter is on the higher-order steps in the waste hierarchy, i.e. waste prevention through environmental awareness raising, preparation for reuse and reuse.

The case of Bornholm shows that through a focus on unlocking green minds and an innovative partnership and experimentation approach, it is possible to waste prevention and strengthen preparation for reuse and thus, the inner circles in a circular economy are complied with. This may be affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic which has had global effects on waste streams including Denmark, but in the longer timeframe the actions involved with achieving the waste-free 2032 vision is expected to be resilient to outside conditions. By fostering good working relationships with civil society through projects and challenging norms about the municipal leeway to operate in, e.g. waste planning, Bornholm can lead the way for others.

Our longing for incessant and rapid economic growth came at a cost of inefficient and wasteful use of resources and environmental pollution. The consequences are immense and far exceeding the planetary capacities to regenerate itself at such fast pace. It became clear that a transition to sustainable societies cannot occur with our current linear economic model and that transition to circular economy is no longer a choice, but a must.

Sustainability is one of the Slovenia’s core values, which can be easily felt by those living or visiting the country, and for which Slovenia was proclaimed as the World’s most sustainable country in 2017. However, Slovenia started a strategic and systemic circular transformation in 2016, after the release of the Circular Economy Package, adopted by the European Commission in 2015. With that, the sound material cycle became embedded as one of the priorities in the Slovenian development strategy and in the Vision for Slovenia in 2050. Consequently, this called upon a development of a Framework Programme for Transition to a Green Economy in Slovenia in 2015 as well as the roadmap towards the circular economy in Slovenia in 2018, with a core goal to guide Slovenia towards a circular transition.

The circular transition is expanding fast in Slovenia. One of the first and most necessary steps taken was establishment of recycling centers and separated waste collection system, which in only few years not only helped to reduce the amount of landfilled waste, but brought Slovenia to the European top in terms of the recycling rate. Moreover, due to the effective measures on waste reduction and recycling, Slovenian capital Ljubljana became the first zero waste capital in Europe and was entitled a Green capital of Europe in 2016.

This chapter provides a description of the most recent and fundamental legislative frameworks for circular economy (CE) that pave the circular transition on Slovenian grounds. A roadmap towards the circular economy in Slovenia and other developed action plans and strategies that have a great potential to further enhance the transition will be introduced. Several CE-related indicators will be presented and applied for Slovenian case. Data on generation and recycling of waste—all waste, municipal waste, and other waste fractions, for example, packaging, e-waste, biowaste, and more, will be presented. Additionally, data on Slovenian resource productivity, the use of secondary raw materials, eco-innovation, and environmental performance of Slovenian SME will be provided, as well as the further insights of challenges, Slovenia’s priority areas, and opportunities for circularity. The chapter will be illustrated with concrete CE case studies in areas of manufacturing industry, agriculture and forestry, food systems, mobility, and education. The measures for circularity taken by two Slovenian frontrunner cities—Ljubljana and Maribor—will also be presented. The chapter will be concluded by a look into the future on the grounds of current ongoing projects, set strategies, action plans, and visions for circular transition in Slovenia.

In Mexico the concept of a circular economy (CE) is relatively new. Public policy and associated research towards implementing a circular economy model are fairly recent but growing rapidly. This happens inside an existing legal framework that partially addresses elements that could lead to a solid foundation to adopt CE strategies. Because of the cooperation between the Mexican government and international agencies CE components operate at different degrees of efficiency. In such framework non-governmental organizations also act, together or in cooperation with the government. Literature review as well as national statistics show that there is a large potential to adopt a CE model. This may have beneficial impacts such as achieving several goals of the 2030 Agenda, including the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, social inequality, and poverty alleviation. CE benefits could also have economic advantages as minimizing costs, making profits, and generate employment. Previous exercises, existing practices, and accumulative knowledge show that waste management of urban solid waste is a priority; however, challenges must be overcome, such as strengthening recycling and composting, generating energy from waste, attending lack of infrastructure, managing informality and created interests, and shaping cultural mishaps. Other additional targets to close loops under CE strategies should consider agricultural waste, e-waste, and one-single-use plastics whose volumes are increasing at accelerating pace and a more detail characterization is needed to derive management plans and exploitation. There are other subtypes of waste that require urgent attention such as hazardous waste (particularly infectious waste) and special handling waste (notably building construction and demolition debris); all flows that could impact public health or conduct the country towards more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive pathways. Windows of opportunity to adopt CE strategies indicate that water issues should be considered seriously as a target sector as it has relevant cobenefits such as reducing water scarcity, minimizing urban flooding, and improving water quality. Last but not least, CE thinking should be embraced more by critical economic sectors such as tourism and industry and be expanded on places where is partially running such as retail stores. This document summarizes the current status of several waste flows over period of time through national statistics. In addition, the existing legal framework that could give way to implement CE is revisited. Analysis of data here included showed the huge potential of CE in Mexico if such a model is fully embraced. It also pointed at how to close open-loops and identified where more detailed records are needed to carry out a sound diagnosis. We conclude that for Mexico a CE hybrid model would be desirable. This will require connecting a just and sustainable transition agenda which in turn implies enabling new ways of thinking and planning, but also of interinstitutional coordination and governance schemes. Recognizing diversity may be important as some CE practices in Mexico may fully embrace technological innovations, while others may mostly be based on social and organizational innovations. Additionally, changing and reducing unsustainable consumption patterns should be a parallel measure to CE.

Turkey has taken significant steps in the institutionalization of environmental authorities and drawing up environmental legislation in the last four decades. The country has a strengthened and comprehensive environmental regulatory framework that can support circular economy components. However, the implementation of environmental regulations needs significant improvement. Several targets have been determined in terms of waste recycling and recovery, and renewable energy utilization to support CE implementation. Currently, 87% of municipal waste is landfilled. Increasing the municipal waste recovery rate is among the top priorities of the country. Industrial waste recovery is improving quicker compared to municipal waste recovery in Turkey. Hazardous industrial waste recovery increased by 68%, and non-hazardous industrial waste recovery increased by 30% in the last 2 years. Turkey is in the process of implementing several projects to reduce plastic waste pollution and to increase the recovery rate. Zero Waste Project is the leading project in this regard. However, large amounts of plastic waste are also imported in Turkey, which is challenging according to the zero waste policy. Turkey has large potential and an increased installed capacity of renewable energy sources. Environmental investment by the private sector has a growing trend. On the other hand, a highly carbon-intensive economy reliant on fossil fuels is still a concern in terms of the circular economy. Turkey put binding targets to support the circular economy realization in the country, mostly related to recycling and recovery of certain types of waste, and in a dynamic process to establish an effective system to manage all the recycling and recovery activities. This chapter aims to summarize the efforts by Turkey towards establishing circular economy components in the country.