Towards a circular economy-Waste management in the EU
Study
25-09-2017
This STOA study explores waste management in the EU. Around one third of EU municipal waste was sent to landfill in 2012. To turn waste into a resource, waste management objectives must be aligned with the goals of a circular economy transition. This report highlights progress and challenges across Member States and in municipalities for (1) reducing waste, and (2) generating high-quality waste streams for re-use and recovery. It focuses on the current policy landscape, trends, and technologies for the five waste streams identified in the European Commission´s Circular Economy Action Plan. Employment opportunities for the different steps of the waste hierarchy as well as future policy options are identified and discussed.
About this document
Publication type
Policy area
Keyword
- BUSINESS AND COMPETITION
- business classification
- circular economy
- deterioration of the environment
- economic analysis
- economic geography
- economic policy
- ECONOMICS
- ENVIRONMENT
- environmental policy
- EU law - national law
- EU Member State
- EU statistics
- EUROPEAN UNION
- European Union law
- GEOGRAPHY
- green economy
- international trade
- marketing
- packaging
- prevention of pollution
- PRODUCTION, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
- raw material
- recycling technology
- small and medium-sized enterprises
- technology and technical regulations
- TRADE
- waste
- waste management