Circular Economy: Origins, Evolution and Role of MSW

Abstract

Abstract Circular economy is presented today in opposition to linear economy. This last one was introduced at the end of the 19th, based on the terms: take, make, consume, through away. Its development was connected with the technological innovations for increasing the productivity as an absolute target. The analysis of the literature demonstrates that the first concepts of the material circularity were introduced before an official definition of waste, through the terms of Industrial Symbiosis and Industrial Ecology since the 40s. In the following decades important enhancements can be met in the criteria available for having an economy more oriented towards sustainability. A milestone can be considered the issue of the circular economy package from EU in 2015, specifically related to MSW, with the concepts of efficient and sustainable use of resources and new integrated model of production, distribution and consumption. As the EU decided to give centrality to MSW, this article analyses its role in the above-mentioned literature. CE and MSW were analysed also from another aspect: the generation of detailed information on the characteristics of residual MSW management is discussed as a strategy to support CE. Finally, the expectations of the sector as a consequence of the adoption of circularity concepts were analysed.