Closing the Loop: Can Circular Economy Concept Reduce Waste in Smart Cities?

Abstract Maintaining a sustainable waste management is a challenge for development of smart cities amid the current global urbanisation. As cities worldwide embrace sustainability as a key driver of future growth, waste management is crucial not only for environmental health but also for promoting public well-being. The concept of circular economy (CE) focuses on keeping resources and never wasted. There are significant enablers of and barriers to the implementation of CE practices in urban contexts. This paper aims to identify the enablers of and barriers to implement CE principles in smart cities to reduce waste and promote circularity processes in waste management. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine waste generation points, current disposal systems and the application of the CE concept to waste management in smart cities. The research indicates that different methods contribute to waste production in urban areas, all of which could benefit from the CE concept. These ideas provide a foundation for various sustainable waste management practices. The research findings highlight the significance of social, technological, legal, economic and environmental factors for the adoption of CE concept and suggest a framework towards changes, consideration and towards waste circularity in smart cities.