A review of waste prevention through 3R under the concept of circular economy in China

Liu, Lili; Liang, Yangyang; Song, Qingbin; Li, Jinhui

doi:10.1007/s10163-017-0606-4

Cited by 104 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…In reality, it is a fast-growing concept in which the value of products, materials, and resources is preserved as much as possible, while the waste production is minimised [4]. As argued by several scholars [5,6], the circular economy is grounded on the 3R approach: reducing, reusing, and recycling. What is more, Chine is the first country to have adopted the CE promotional law which applies the 3R principles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Phases of the Adoption of the Circular Economy on Firm Performance: Evidence from 28 EU Countries

et al. 2020

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Although a substantial body of literature has analysed the potential benefits of the circular economy, empirical evidence on the relationship between circular economy-related activities and firm performance is scarce. Rather than analysing only the effect of the circular economy on firm performance, we empirically examine the effects of the different phases of the adoption process of the circular economy on firm performance. Therefore, in this paper, a multiphase framework of circular economy adoption is developed. Employing a propensity-score-matching model on the sample of more than 4000 European SMEs, we show that the adoption of circular economy activities improves firm performance as measured by productivity. In addition, our findings reveal that the impact of circular economy activities on firm performance is dependent on the different phases of the adoption process. Taken together, this study enriches current research on the circular economy by contributing to a more nuanced understanding on the relationship between the different phases of the adoption process and firm performance.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Phases of the Adoption of the Circular Economy on Firm Performance: Evidence from 28 EU Countries

et al. 2020

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“…However, in 2011, an estimated 90% of all waste generated was still being disposed of in landfills [2]. Diverting recyclables from landfills is a worldwide concern in the drive towards a circular economy that strives to keep resources in use for as long as possible through reuse, recycling, and recovery [3][4][5]. South Africa has successfully grown a recycling economy over the past three decades [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers to Household Waste Recycling: Empirical Evidence from South Africa

Strydom

2018

Recycling

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A small percentage of South Africans regularly recycle most of their recyclables, which was only 4% and 7.2% in 2010 and 2015, respectively. This empirical quantitative study, the first study on this scale in South Africa, aimed to ascertain the reasons why people do not recycle. This paper reports the results from a survey conducted among a representative sample of 2004 respondents in eleven of South Africa’s large urban areas. Each respondent selected three main reasons why people do not recycle from ten possible options as well as the one main reason. The results show that (i) insufficient space, (ii) no time, (iii) dirty and untidiness associated with recycling, (iv) lack of recycling knowledge, and (v) inconvenient recycling facilities are perceived as the main reasons why people do not recycle. Non-recycling households (74% of the respondents) give high priority to time and knowledge. Low recyclers—those that sporadically recycle few items—and young South Africans give high priority to services (inconvenient facilities and no curbside collection). Lack of knowledge is an important factor for people from dense settlements as well as the unemployed looking for work. Improved recycling services such as regular curbside collections have the potential to overcome time and space barriers. Recycling services as well as recycling knowledge will have to improve to encourage the youth, the unemployed, and those living in informal areas to recycle and realize the opportunities locked in the waste sector. The perceptions of respondents from non-recycling households differ from those from recycling households. The larger representation of non-recyclers in developing countries emphasize the importance of understanding local evidence when comparing and implementing results from developed countries. The learning from this study could also assist other developing countries to encourage household participation in recycling initiatives.

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“…Therefore, special attention should be paid to the wastewater disposal practices, as it is a part of waste management. In practice, a number of waste prevention methods are available, and they are summarized as the so-called 2Rs: reduction-prevent wastewater generation in the first place by the reduction of water usage and pollution reduction at source and reuse-reuse of wastewater as an alternative source of water supply [13], 3Rs: reduction, reuse and recycling-recovery or reclamation of water from wastewater for potable or non-potable usage [14][15][16][17], and 4Rs: reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery-recovery of resources as nutrients and energy from water-based waste [18,19]. In the current paper, a circular economy model framework for the water and wastewater sector is proposed, based on the mentioned waste prevention rules: reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery, and also two additional aspects: reclamation (removal)-focused on highly effective removal of pollutants (widely used in water and sewage management), and rethink-which is the basis for introducing systematic changes in the whole value chain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Circular economy model framework in the European water and wastewater sector

Smol

Adam

Preisner

2020

J Mater Cycles Waste Manag

199

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One of the key elements in the transformation towards a circular economy (CE) is providing more sustainable practices for resources and waste management. Improvement actions focused on transformation towards a CE should be targeted at all groups of materials and waste. As water is essential for human survival and well-being and plays a significant role in sustainable development (SD), the actions related to the reuse of water and the recovery of raw materials from wastewater and other water-based waste should be taken. The paper presents a proposition for a new CE model framework in the water and wastewater sector, which includes the six following actions: reduction-prevent wastewater generation in the first place by the reduction of water usage and pollution reduction at source; reclamation (removal)-an application of effective technologies for the removal of pollutants from water and wastewater; reuse-reuse of wastewater as an alternative source of water supply (non-potable usage), recycling-recovery of water from wastewater for potable usage; recovery-recovery of resources such as nutrients and energy from water-based waste, and rethink-rethinking how to use resources to create a sustainable economy, which is `free` of waste and emissions. The novelty of the proposed CE model framework is that it presents possible ways of implementing CE principles in the water and wastewater sector, with a strong emphasis not only technological but also organisational and societal changes. Application of the proposed model may help to further transform the European economy to the CE model. Moreover, the indicated model can be significant tool supporting an assessment of local or regional progress towards CE in the water and wastewater sector and further environmental management and planning.

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A review of waste prevention through 3R under the concept of circular economy in China

Cited by 104 publications

References 21 publications

The Effect of Phases of the Adoption of the Circular Economy on Firm Performance: Evidence from 28 EU Countries

The Effect of Phases of the Adoption of the Circular Economy on Firm Performance: Evidence from 28 EU Countries

Barriers to Household Waste Recycling: Empirical Evidence from South Africa

Circular economy model framework in the European water and wastewater sector

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