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The transition to a circular economy requires the reform of many existing practices. The Circwaste project identified critical factors that professionals face in promoting the circular economy and recycling.
According to a recently completed interview study, not all parties promoting the circular economy have a common view of the barriers and success factors of the circular economy. Intermediaries or the actors providing information, know-how and, for example, technical solutions, emphasised systematic approaches such as national and regional policies, regulations and subsidies, as well as extensive cooperation between different sectors.
Developers or the practical actors such as companies providing circular economy services and solutions, in turn focused more on practical problems such as the quality and availability of waste materials, the affordability of virgin raw materials, or the flexibility of current management practices.
“The lack of a common vision of key obstacles and solutions can undermine commitment or even lead to conflicting actions in promoting the circular economy. The study emphasises that overcoming obstacles also requires identifying the interconnections between different barriers,” says Senior Coordinator Hanna Salmenperä from the Finnish Environment Institute.
A more diverse role for the waste management sector in the circular economy
In a circular economy, the task of waste management is to promote the preservation of the value of the material in the cycle. The results suggest that this can be facilitated by digital waste management solutions, the provision of transparent waste data and increased dialogue and cooperation between key actors. According to the interviewees, local waste management regulations and terms need to be harmonised.
The waste management sector could play a more diverse role in the circular economy as, for example, a provider of waste prevention and reuse services or in waste processing to suit the needs of the manufacturing industry.
The study interviewed 25 developers or intermediaries involved in Circwaste subprojects who promote waste prevention and recycling in their sectors in various sectors, including construction, biodegradable waste and by-product management, industrial operations, strategic planning and networking, and municipal waste management. Actors were asked about the barriers to the circular economy and the success factors that occurred during the implementation of the projects.
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- Senior Coordinator Hanna Salmenperä, the Finnish Environment Institute, firstname.lastname@syke.fi