Circular economy approach in solid waste management system to achieve UN-SDGs: Solutions for post-COVID recovery

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing socioeconomic crisis has impeded progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs). This paper investigates the impact of COVID 19 on the progress of the SDGs and provides insight into how green recovery stimulus, driven by circular economy (CE)-based solid waste management (SWM) could assist in attaining the intended targets of UN-SDG. It was understood in this review that the guiding principles of the UN-SDGs such as, public health, environmental concerns, resource value and economic development are similar to those that have driven the growth of waste management activities; thus, in order to achieve the goals of UN-SDG, a circular economy approach in solid waste management system should be prioritized in the post-COVID economic agenda. However, policy, technology and public involvement issues may hinder the shift to the CE model; therefore, niche growth might come from developing distinctive waste management-driven green jobs, formalizing informal waste pickers and by focusing in education and training of informal worker. The review also emphasized in creating green jobs by investing in recycling infrastructure which would enable us to address the climate change related concerns which is one of the key target of UN- SDG. The CE-based product designs and business models would emphasize multifunctional goods, extending the lifespan of products and their parts, and intelligent manufacturing to help the public and private sectors maximise product utility (thus reducing waste generation) while providing long-term economic and environmental benefits. The study also recommended strong policies that prioritized investments in decentralization of solid waste systems, localization of supply chains, recycling and green recovery, information sharing, and international collaboration in order to achieve the UN-SDGs.

Keywords: COVID-19 impact; Circular economy; Sustainability; Sustainable development goals; Waste management.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

Impact of COVID-19 on the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (United Nations, 2020).

Fig. 2

The difference between linear and circular economy showing ways to achieve SDGs.

Fig. 3

Concept of 10R during the implementation of circular economy based solid waste management (Zorpas, 2020) (with permission from Elsevier Licence number 5041781434699).

Fig. 4

Global waste composition and treatment and disposal trends (Eurostat, 2020; Kaza et al., 2018).

Fig. 5

Food waste prevention policies with multi-facet approach to address logical, infrastructure and social aspects associated with waste prevention.

Fig. 6

An overview of the key drivers for integrating the pillars of sustainability and governance to circular economy approaches in plastic waste management.

Fig. 7

Incorporation of circular economy approaches in construction and demolition waste management.

Fig. 8

Circular economy approaches in management of electronic waste.

Fig. 9

The role of the informal sector in designing supply chain by incorporating circular economy approaches(Hande, 2019; ILO, 2018; Valencia, 2019).

Fig. 10

Multi-level perspective on socio-technical transitions (Geels, 2019) (with permission from Elsevier Licence number 5041790223993).

Fig. 11

Policy instruments for waste and resource management (Wilson et al., 2015).