Core elements towards circularity: Evidence from the European countries

Abstract

In this paper, the authors identified key elements important for circularity. The primary goal of circularity is to eliminate waste and prove the constant use of resources. In the paper, we classified studies according to circular approaches and stated which of them get the highest attention. Further, we identified the principal elements, grouped them into four categories important for circularity, and presented scientific works dedicated to each of the above-mentioned categories. Further on, several core elements from the first category were investigated, aiming to connect different waste streams and provide a regression model. Finally, the methodological part reviewed the correlation between various types of waste and their recycling and selected suitable ones for developing a new panel regression model. The empirical research was delivered for the 27 European Union countries during the period between 2000 and 2019. We indicate that the recycling rate of municipal waste impacts the increase of recycling biowaste the same calendar year. The increase of recycling of municipal waste by one per cent means the increase of the recycling of biowaste by 0.6 per cent.