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Embedding Circular Economy Principles into Urban Regeneration and Waste Management: Framework and Metrics

Author

Listed:
  • Teresa Domenech

    (Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, Gower St., Bloomsbury, London WC1E 6BT, UK)

  • Aiduan Borrion

    (Department for Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, Gower St., Bloomsbury, London WC1E 6BT, UK)

Abstract

In a highly urbanised world, cities have become main centers of resource consumption and generation of waste. The notion of the circular economy (CE) identifies strategies for slowing and narrowing resource use through the prevention of waste, improvement of resource use, and substitution of the use of primary resources with recovered materials (and energy). The literature has recently started to explore the concept of circular cities, and a number of cities around the globe have adopted circular economy strategies. Urban regeneration can play a critical role in enabling more circular loops of resources and contribute to more sustainable urban environments; however, there is a lack of contributions in the literature that explore the circularity of urban regeneration projects. The aim of this research is to address this gap by providing a framework and metrics to embed circular economy principles into urban regeneration. The proposed framework and set of metrics are then applied to a case study in West London to quantitatively assess CE implications and point to opportunities to increase circularity. Three main scenarios are developed to assess resource impacts of different waste strategies. The maximizing recycling scenario suggests that over 65% recycling and just under 35% energy recovery could be achieved for the area. However, findings suggest potential trade-offs between strategies centered around energy recovery from waste and strategies that prioritise recycling of recyclable fractions from waste. The three scenarios are then assessed against the CE metrics proposed. Again, here, ‘maximising recycling’ better aligns with the proposed CE metrics and contributes to cutting around 50% of GHG emissions associated with management/disposal of residual waste while increasing opportunities for resource recovery. Finally, some conclusions are drawn pointing to pathways to maximise optimal resource use and infrastructural provision in urban regeneration.

Suggested Citation

  • Teresa Domenech & Aiduan Borrion, 2022. "Embedding Circular Economy Principles into Urban Regeneration and Waste Management: Framework and Metrics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1293-:d:732024
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Will McDowall & Yong Geng & Beijia Huang & Eva Barteková & Raimund Bleischwitz & Serdar Türkeli & René Kemp & Teresa Doménech, 2017. "Circular Economy Policies in China and Europe," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 651-661, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chenrui Qu & Lenan Liu & Zhenxia Wang, 2022. "Research on Waste Recycling Network Planning Based on the “Pipeline–Vehicle” Recycling Mode," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Kartik Kapoor & Nikhil Sayi Amydala & Anubhav Ambooken & Anne Scheinberg, 2023. "Measuring Circularity in Cities: A Review of the Scholarly and Grey Literature in Search of Evidence-Based, Measurable and Actionable Indicators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-26, September.
    3. Caferra, Rocco & D'Adamo, Idiano & Morone, Piergiuseppe, 2023. "Wasting energy or energizing waste? The public acceptance of waste-to-energy technology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).

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