Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy

India’s rapidly urbanizing cities face severe challenges in municipal solid waste management as waste generation surges, creating tensions between development and environmental sustainability. Despite comprehensive policy frameworks that emphasize circular economy principles, significant gaps persist between policy intentions and on-the-ground implementation, particularly regarding material resource recovery systems. This research delivers the first comprehensive mixed-methods examination of India’s waste management policy evolution, uniquely integrating formal policy evaluation with informal sector dynamics across varied urban settings. Unlike previous studies focusing on isolated aspects, this work provides an integrated analysis spanning governance, economics, technology and social dimensions while examining the critical intersection between formal regulatory frameworks and extensive informal recycling networks characterizing India’s waste management landscape. The study employs a triangulated research design combining systematic literature review (89 peer-reviewed documents), comparative case study analysis of 10 urban local bodies representing diverse geographic regions and governance structures, and extensive field observations with semi-structured stakeholder interviews (n = 45) from January 2023 through March 2024. India generates over 58 million tonnes of waste annually with 90% collection but only 48–50% treatment, representing critical implementation gaps. Analysis reveals 60–65% comprises organic matter while 30–35% consists of recyclables worth US$4 billion annually, largely unrecovered. Cities with integrated governance frameworks achieve 35–40% higher material recovery rates (p < 0.01). Major barriers include inadequate infrastructure, fragmented governance, economic disincentives and unstable recycling markets. The persistent collection–treatment gap requires synchronized interventions across governance, infrastructure, economic incentives and stakeholder engagement.

The rapid increase of orbital debris, now consisting of tens of thousands of objects (larger than 1 cm), large enough to be tracked, together limited resources, highlights the urgent need for sustainable practices to space activities. This review explores the emerging applications of circular economy principles in space waste management, specifically with reference to what is utilized inside spacecraft, orbiting station and future space bases in order to maximize resource recovery and materials reuse. A broad yet structured literature search across major databases was carried out. Studies based on their relevance to in‑orbit recycling, bioregenerative systems, debris valorization and closed‑loop manufacturing were selected. The analytical strategy combined thematic mapping with keyword co-occurrence visualization based on VOSviewer to uncover emerging research clusters and highlight underexplored areas within the literature. Major contributions include (i) advancing the concept of space circularity by conceptualizing debris as feedstock for in situ manufacturing, emphasizing the potential to transform space debris into usable resources and (ii) mapping enabling technologies, such as hyperspectral imaging for waste classification, biological carbon reactors for urine recycling and in‑space additive manufacturing of bioplastic components. The systematic review carried out using the PRISMA method has paved the way for a forward‑looking research agenda that bridges theoretical insight and operational innovation in the space sector. Furthermore, the findings are valuable for policymakers, practitioners and academics, as they intend to provide future research focused on developing innovative, sustainable approaches for long-term in-space habitation. This includes strategies for extended stays on space stations located far from Earth, such as deep space habitats or orbital platforms beyond Earth’s orbit.

This systematic review examines food waste management in Malaysian private healthcare, investigating the complex intersection of operational inefficiencies and deeply rooted cultural practices. Traditional quantification methods inadequately address cultural drivers such as kenduri hospitality traditions and halal compliance requirements, creating systematic gaps in management approaches within Malaysian healthcare contexts. A systematic review of 34 studies was conducted examining food waste quantification, cultural factors, and technological solutions in Malaysian private hospitals. This review synthesized evidence from 1832 initial records, achieving high methodological rigour with 85% of studies meeting quality standards. Data extraction focused on waste rates, cultural drivers, and regional management strategies from ASEAN countries, analyzed through socio-technical systems theory. Oncology wards demonstrated highest waste rates at 59.3% due to cultural-therapeutic diet mismatches. Kenduri traditions contributed to 62% systematic overproduction, while 41% of halal-compliant surplus became ineligible for redistribution due to improper segregation. Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven portion control achieved 89% prediction accuracy but faced implementation resistance. Regional analysis revealed Thailand’s stream-specific audits achieved 37% waste reduction through cultural-operational categorization, complemented by Indonesia’s halal-compliant composting approaches. Study limitations include English-language restriction and reliance on secondary data. Malaysian private healthcare requires culturally-adaptive waste management frameworks integrating traditional values with operational efficiency. Technology integration combining AI portion control with blockchain halal traceability offers scalable solutions when implemented alongside stakeholder-driven standardization. These findings provide the first comprehensive framework for culturally-adaptive waste management in Islamic healthcare contexts.

Sound-absorbing materials are widely used to mitigate noise pollution. In this study, a geopolymer sound-absorbing material was prepared using municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) and foundry ash (FA), and its dioxin and heavy metal characteristics were investigated. The toxicity equivalent quantity (TEQ) of dioxins in raw MSWIFA was 78 ng TEQ kg⁻¹, with 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF contributing 34 ng TEQ kg⁻¹. Detoxification using calcium hydroxide combined with pyrolysis at 400°C reduced the TEQ in MSWIFA to 0.62 ng TEQ kg⁻¹, achieving a removal rate of 99.21%. A geopolymer was prepared by mixing low-temperature detoxified fly ash (LTDFA, pyrolysed at 400°C) with activated foundry ash (AFA, calcined at 800°C) at a 1:1 mass ratio, resulting in LTDFA-FABG with a TEQ of 12 ng TEQ kg⁻¹ – well below the 50 ng TEQ kg⁻¹ limit specified in the Technical Specification for Pollution Control of Fly Ash from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (HJ 1134-2020). Compared to LTDFA-FABG, the geopolymer prepared using LTDFA, AFA and lime (LA-LTDFA-FABG) showed significantly reduced leachate concentrations of Cd and Mn, from 0.115 and 0.206 mg L⁻¹ to below detection limits. LA-LTDFA-FABG exhibited a sound absorption bandwidth of 400–1000 Hz, a noise reduction coefficient of 0.49, and a compressive strength of 0.34 MPa, representing increases of 28.9% and 13.3%, respectively, over a commercial sound-absorbing panel. With an average pore size of 13.71 nm and a closed-pore structure, LA-LTDFA-FABG enhances contact and friction between sound waves and air, improving low-frequency sound absorption. These findings demonstrate that MSWIFA and FA can be effectively combined to produce geopolymer sound-absorbing materials, offering a promising route for the resource utilization of MSWIFA.

The rate of plastic consumption is predicted to grow at an increasing rate beyond 2050, with plastic waste reaching as much as 873 million tonnes by 2050. The drive towards a circular plastics economy means that plastic waste represents a growing resource, with the potential to contribute significantly to job creation and economic activity, particularly in developing countries. However, this potential is not currently being realised, highlighting the need for strategic interventions. In 2020 extended producer responsibility, one mechanism available to enable the circular plastics economy, was legislated in South Africa. One of the requirements for producer responsibility organisations is to report on job creation. This study investigated the beverage polyethylene terephthalate (PET) value chain and identified the critical and poorly understood role of buy-back centres (BBCs) in the system. A survey of 52 BBCs, covering 8 of the 9 provinces, was conducted to understand material flows, operating and financial models and staffing requirements. The BBC sector is estimated to employ over 15,500 full-time equivalents, the majority (68%) unskilled or semi-skilled workers, and contribute over R1.66 billion in wages and salaries. Beverage PET accounts for approximately 19% of the material handled, directly contributing to over 3000 jobs. Key findings of the research were the difference between the various categories of BBCs operating in South Africa referred to as ‘aggregators’ and ‘pre-processors’ and the critical role played by ‘bakkie collectors’, as an essential link for informal collectors.

Improper treatment of hospital wastes is currently attracting considerable attention due to their infectious and hazardous nature. This study assessed the generation, composition, isolation and identification of bacteria in waste from a tertiary hospital in Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria. The quantity of waste generated daily in the hospital was determined for 4 months (2 months each in wet and dry seasons). The wastes were later segregated and categorized into general, infectious, highly infectious, pharmaceutical, pathological, chemical and sharp waste in line with the World Health Organization specifications. Samples of hospital wastes from six selected sections within the hospital were collected and subjected to microbiological examinations. The microorganisms isolated from the waste were identified using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction and sequencing. The total quantity of waste generated in the hospital during the study period was 13,101.32 kg (6894.92 and 6206.40 kg for wet and dry seasons, respectively). The waste generated per day was 106.51 kg, whereas the quantity of waste generated per bed per day and the quantity of waste generated per patient per day were 0.35 and 0.24 kg, respectively. The DNA extraction and sequencing confirmed the presence of Alcaligenes faecalis, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus thuringiensis in the hospital waste. Wastes generated in the hospital were hazardous, and physical composition and classification of the medical waste did not vary with season.

Fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP) are widely used in the construction of commercial fishing boats, particularly in Asian countries, due to their durability and high strength. However, the lack of proper end-of-life disposal methods has led to the widespread abandonment of derelict boats, causing environmental harm through microplastic leaching and degrading coastal ecosystems. The study aimed to address this issue by evaluating a novel approach to convert derelict FRP fishing boats into cementitious composites, thereby reducing the consumption of natural sand and promoting long-term marine ecosystem sustainability. FRP debris were collected from fish landing centres along the Kerala coast. It was mechanically processed – shredded, pulverized, and sieved – to achieve a particle size of 0.3–1 mm. The resulting powder was used as a partial sand replacement (50%) in fabricating FRP-reinforced cementitious composites. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of glass fibre-reinforced polyester, with bulk density values lower than that of sand. Composition showed the powder primarily comprised glass fibre, making it a viable sand alternative. The resulting composite demonstrated mechanical properties comparable to traditional cementitious composites but with reduced specific weight, making it suitable for lightweight construction applications. Prototypes of architectural and beautification elements – such as vases, planter pots, and wall panels – were successfully developed using this composite. This study validated the feasibility of transforming environmentally problematic FRP debris derived from fishing boats into durable, value-added products. It highlights a sustainable solution that supports circular economy principles through effective debris valorisation and the conservation of finite natural resources.

Literature is emerging on Australian household food and garden waste disposal and recycling habits; however, little is known about the feasibility of, and community attitudes to, kerbside organics collection in regional settings. This study provides results on the conversion of food and garden organics to compost in a council-owned small scale, boutique composting system and employed a series of surveys to evaluate household residents’ attitudes to the collection and processing of food organic and garden organic material in two regional towns in the Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Queensland. The trial achieved substantial diversion of organic waste from the general waste stream, which was reduced by 31%. Extrapolation showed that implementation of a similar collection system across the entire council region would extend the current landfill life by at least 2 years. The composting system cost less than 200,000 Australian dollars (AUD) to establish and eliminated considerable transport and gate fee costs for commercial composting, which would have exceeded 500,000 AUD for the treatment of the tonnes of food waste collected in the trial. Pre- and post-trial surveys showed residents’ willingness to pay increased from 44% to 50% and the range of costs the respondents were willing to pay was between 22.80 and 42.80 AUD. Key to improving residents’ attitudes lie in clearly communicating how waste charges are applied and the costs to councils to manage waste. Further recommendations to enhance the overall trial effectiveness include sufficient lead in time for trial preparation, strategic communication and recycling education specifically related to separation of food.

The construction sector worldwide is producing a massive amount of waste materials. In worst-case scenarios, most of these materials end up in landfills. In the Swedish national waste plan, construction and demolition waste is an area of priority, when transforming from a linear to a circular economy. The aim of this paper is to determine if it is possible to industrially produce good quality pellets from wood waste. The scope includes Swedish construction and demolition wood waste. Four assortments of wood waste from the building sector were turned into fuel pellets in a single pellet press, and their quality was determined. The main pellet quality aspects investigated were moisture content, solid density, hardness, mechanical durability and ash content. The results for these quality aspects were compared to the standards and the results of others. Also, the energy use was determined. The results demonstrate that it is possible to produce good quality pellets from construction and demolition wood waste. The achieved pellet moisture content is such that the investigated wood waste material is suitable for pellet production. The container mix resulted in the highest hardness and durability. However, since the ash content is too high, it should be mixed with pure pine sawdust to make it suitable as a high-quality raw material for the pellet industry.

India’s informal waste sector (IWS), embedded in the shadows of urban metabolism, remains vital yet systematically marginalised. Despite the sector’s unprecedented contribution to the circular economy and resource recovery, it is highly vulnerable to socio-economic challenges and occupational marginalisation. This research presents a comprehensive vulnerability assessment across four strategically selected Indian cities – Nagpur, Mumbai, Ghaziabad and Muzaffarnagar – chosen to reflect geographical and infrastructural diversity. Primary data were collected through surveys and stakeholder interviews. The analysis focused on key parameters including age, wage levels, gender distribution, working hours and the use of personal protective equipment. Based on these indicators, a weighted vulnerability index (WVI) was developed through normalisation and expert-informed weight allocation, enabling the quantification of socio-economic and occupational risks in the study areas. To strengthen the robustness of the findings, the WVI results were also cross-validated using the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) technique of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). Both approaches converged in identifying Muzaffarnagar as the most vulnerable (WVI score = 0.71; TOPSIS closeness coefficient (CC) = 0.535) and Mumbai as the least vulnerable (WVI = 0.25; TOPSIS CC = 0.666), with only minor differences in the relative ordering of Nagpur and Ghaziabad. The study thus offers a transferable methodological framework that combines expert-driven weighting with MCDA validation, providing important insights into the precarious working conditions of IWS. The findings underscore the urgent need to integrate informal waste management into formal governance structures through inclusive, rights-based and spatially contextualised policy interventions.

Waste pickers (WPs) contribute to the advancement of the circular economy (CE) by recovering recyclables and supporting more sustainable waste systems, yet they remain under-recognised and underpaid. Their integration is a necessary condition for a just transition to the CE, one that values affected voices, including them in decision-making. Although most research on WPs concentrates on the Global South, this study offers the first in-depth analysis of integration efforts and contributions to a just CE transition in the Global North. It examines 5 organisations affiliated with the North American Waste Pickers Alliance, whose activities directly involved over 400 WPs in 2024 and have collectively engaged more than 12,000 WPs throughout their individual operations. Drawing on interviews, field visits and document analysis, the study finds that WPs primarily collect deposit-return containers and, although connected through collective organisations, often continue to work individually. Integration is driven by grassroots initiatives, rather than by municipal or corporate programmes, reflecting the lack of inclusive policy frameworks. The groups engage in awareness-raising, advocacy, job creation and infrastructure support. They also facilitate WP registration, fair compensation, participation in policymaking and improved waste management. However, they often assume responsibilities that should be shared with governments and industry, such as waste segregation and resources recovery, underscoring the need for stronger partnerships for a just CE transition. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of inclusive waste management and just transitions, offering guidance for policymakers and researchers.

Graphical abstract

Bio-waste composting is environmentally favourable to landfilling; however, this practice has been shown to emit methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), both of which contribute to climate change. Measurement-based studies are necessary to quantify these emissions accurately, define composting best practices and monitor mitigation strategies. Composting practices in Denmark rely on open windrow composting, with 90% of facilities solely treating garden waste. We measured CH₄ and N₂O emissions at three full-scale garden waste facilities and one farm in Denmark during four campaigns spread over the course of a whole year. Whole-site CH₄ emissions were measured using the tracer gas dispersion method, whereas N₂O emissions were derived based on CH₄ to N₂O ratios from flux chambers measurements and the whole-site CH₄ emissions. Whole-site CH₄ and N₂O emissions ranged from 0.065 to 29.5 kg CH₄ h⁻¹, and from ⩽10⁻⁴ to 1.1 kg N₂O h⁻¹, respectively. Combining our measurements at 4 sites with measurements from previous studies at 8 other Danish sites, we derived emission factors for open windrow garden waste composting of 2.56 kg CH₄/Mg waste wet weight (ww) and 0.054 kg N₂O/Mg waste ww from 11 facilities and 1 farm storing shredded and sorted garden waste. This resulted in a notable improvement in the representativeness of these emission factors compared to those previously used in the Danish National Inventory Report (NIR), which were based on measurements performed 20 years ago at a single Danish composting facility. As a result of this study, the CH₄ emission factor was updated in the 2024 Danish NIR.

This study aims to comparatively assess the circular economy (CE) performance of 27 European Union (EU) member states using data from 2000 to 2023. The CE is considered a critical strategy for optimizing resource use, reducing waste, reintegrating secondary raw materials into production processes and supporting sustainable growth. The study used the CE indicators published by Eurostat, and analyses were conducted under three dimensions: (i) production and consumption, (ii) waste and secondary raw material production and (iii) competitiveness, innovation, global sustainability and resilience. Countries’ performance was assessed using multi-criteria decision-making methods such as CoCoSo, MABAC and MAIRCA. The results were converted into definitive rankings using the Borda method by applying different weighting approaches (Equal Weight, Entropy, CRITIC and AHP). Periodic analyses (2000–2013, 2014–2023 and the overall period 2000–2023) revealed how countries’ CE performances have changed over time. Germany, France and Italy were found to be top performers in all periods, whereas Estonia, Malta and Bulgaria performed poorly. Although the Netherlands and Spain particularly stand out in waste management and the use of secondary raw materials, some Central and Eastern European countries were found to be more successful in the production–consumption dimension. This study provides an important assessment framework for policymakers and researchers by examining the CE performance of EU countries in a holistic and comparative manner.

This study investigates the psychological pathways influencing mobile e-waste recycling behaviour among adolescents and young Indian adults (AYAs), a critical issue given the nation’s rising volume of electronic waste. We examine the mediating role of recycling intention in the relationship between key psychological antecedents – environmental concerns (EC), normative interpersonal influence (NII), perceived psychological obsolescence (PPO) and information security risk perception (ISRP) – and actual recycling behaviour utilising the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Using survey data from 368 AYAs, a generalized linear model mediation analysis with 5000 bootstrap resamples was conducted. The results revealed distinct operational pathways for different predictors. EC was found to significantly predict recycling intention in a partially mediated relationship that also included a direct effect on behaviour. Conversely, NII, PPO and ISRP did not significantly predict recycling intention; instead, they exerted a significant direct positive influence on subsequent recycling behaviour. Theoretically, this research reveals a dual-pathway mechanism within an extended TPB: Value-based constructs operate via planned intentions, while pragmatic factors (social cues, obsolescence, security risks) directly trigger behaviour. Practically, the findings explain the prevalent e-waste hoarding phenomenon in India as a rational, security-driven response. This identifies direct behavioural triggers, alongside intention, as key targets for future interventions.

Informality is one factor associated with solid waste management in developing countries. Studies are scarce on the implications of these informalities to macro-level circular economy (CE) adoption in these global regions. Contributing to this gap in knowledge, this study analyzed Nigeria’s informal waste management sector to appraise its contribution to the waste management value chain in the CE. It also evaluated the associated challenges and opportunities that could facilitate or hinder its adoption in macro-level CE implementation. The result of the study shows that informal waste sectors contribute significantly to the waste management value chain such as collection, transportation, sorting, upcycling, resource recovery, and recycling. The informal waste collection, which is currently the only means of collecting recyclables in Nigeria is estimated to collect about 3.35 million tonnes (Mt) in 2030 from the current value of 2.69 Mt in 2023. It has the potential to make economic savings of about $121.48 million and add a net revenue of $454. 41 million to the national economy by 2030. Given these contributions, other identified opportunities for including the informal waste sector in the macro-level CE include; providing a source of livelihood to socially marginalized urban populations while promoting environmental sustainability; providing waste collection services to unserved urban areas, creating a circular business model, creating a platform for possible transition to zero waste status, aiding the implementation of extended producer responsibility, and providing cheap input material for local industries. The challenges include harsh work conditions and social capital, non-standardized metrics for the trade of recyclables, unavailability of data, poor quality recyclables caused by not segregating waste from source, child waste picker, gender exclusiveness, and absence of novel waste treatment facilities.