Recycling municipal solid waste in the European Union – A multiple-case study exploring key success factors and commonalities among top performers

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master_Jaakkola_Marta_2023.pdf (1.31 MB)

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School of Business | Master's thesis
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Date

2023

Department

Johtamisen laitos

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Mcode

Degree programme

Creative Sustainability

Language

en

Pages

137

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Abstract

The European Union has made waste an important part of its political and economic agenda, with the aim of transforming the EU economy and societies through circular economy. It has set a target for its Member States to recycle, or prepare for reuse, at least 60 percent of their municipal waste by the year 2030. The importance of recycling lies in its ability to protect human health, the environment, and to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy. This study focuses on recycling of municipal solid waste (MSW); waste that is produced in households, workplaces, educational and public institutions, and in retail spaces, and as such is deeply embedded in our everyday lives. It is also waste that we, the general public, have the most contact with. The purpose of this study is to explore what factors positively influence recycling performance of MSW, by looking at top EU countries who have achieved a recycling rate of 50% or higher. The study uses an exploratory qualitative multiple-case study research design, with Germany, Italy and Slovenia as the selected cases. The findings show that there are several regulatory, economic, technological and sociocultural factors that positively influence MSW recycling performance, and that those factors are often intertwined. The findings highlight the importance of having strong waste management regulation, convenient collection systems with high population coverage, modern waste treatment facilities with sufficient treatment capacity, and citizen participation with an emphasis on normative and cultural- cognitive, informal rules among citizens to recycle correctly. These characteristics are all shared by the case countries, but their pathways to recycling success are unique. There is a growing interest and enthusiasm towards circular economy in academia, but the practical implications are still largely lacking. By focusing on recycling MSW, this study provides concrete insights to policymakers and waste management practitioners to increase recycling rates. Applying the findings requires caution and care however, as well as an understanding of the unique context and background of a country and/or municipality. Literature agrees that waste management is a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary topic, but few studies treat it as such. This study contributes to filling that research gap by studying recycling from an interdisciplinary viewpoint.

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Thesis advisor

Nesterova, Iana

Keywords

recycling, waste management, municipal solid waste, institutional environment, EU, circular economy

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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202311196892

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[gradu] Kauppakorkeakoulu / BIZ