Advancing A Circular Economy: A Future Without Waste?

Description

This book explores an escalating modern-day crisis; managing waste in a sustainable way. The central question posed is whether advancing a circular economy provides a way to shift waste management practices towards more sustainable approaches. It begins with an in-depth analysis of the nature of waste management and the prevailing crisis, followed by a discussion about the circular economy in terms of its requirements and the challenges of implementation. The book then moves on to propose a framework that sets out how to establish the policy changes needed to advance a circular approach to waste management. Next, the book outlines complex issues in multilevel systems for advancing a circular economy through examining the contemporary situation in Belgium and Norway. It ends by bringing together the issues revealed in these case studies and draws insights for governments advocating circular approaches. The book will be a valuable resource to scholars, students, practitioners and policy makers interested in developing more sustainable methods of waste management. Preface......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 List of Figures......Page 9 List of Tables......Page 10 1.1 A Waste Crisis......Page 11 1.2 Advancing a Circular Economy......Page 14 1.3 Book Structure......Page 18 References......Page 19 2.1 Introduction......Page 24 2.2 Waste as Policy Issue......Page 27 2.3 Plastic Waste: A Symbolic Case......Page 32 2.4 Governance and Leadership......Page 35 2.5 Shifting from Voluntary to Mandatory Approaches......Page 38 2.6 Conclusion......Page 42 References......Page 44 3.1 Introduction......Page 50 3.2 A Circular Economy......Page 51 3.3 Policy Focus......Page 57 3.4 Drivers and Barriers......Page 61 3.5 Conclusion......Page 63 References......Page 66 4.1 Introduction......Page 69 4.2 A Theoretical Framework......Page 72 4.3.1 Political Context......Page 74 4.3.2 Power of Actors......Page 78 4.3.3 Influence of Ideas......Page 81 4.3.4 Problem Characteristics......Page 83 4.4 Policy Change......Page 87 References......Page 90 5.1 Introduction......Page 97 5.2.1 Policy Context......Page 98 5.2.2 Ideas and Approaches Taken......Page 102 5.2.3 Policy Actors......Page 104 5.2.4 Effective Policy Action?......Page 106 5.3 Challenges and Opportunities......Page 110 References......Page 115 6.1 Introduction......Page 118 6.2.1 Policy Context......Page 120 6.2.2 Ideas and Approaches Taken......Page 123 6.2.3 Policy Actors......Page 128 6.3.1 Quantities of Waste Continue to Rise......Page 131 6.3.2 Hazardous Waste......Page 133 6.3.3 Recycling......Page 134 References......Page 142 7.1 A Waste Management Crisis......Page 147 7.2 A Circular Response......Page 149 7.3 Political Priority......Page 151 7.4.1 Policy Context......Page 152 7.4.2 Policy Actors......Page 155 7.4.3 Policy Ideas......Page 159 7.4.4 Problem Characteristics......Page 161 7.5 Conclusion......Page 164 References......Page 167 Index......Page 173