Do we have waste in 2030? - The role of municipalities in the transition to a circular economy

KS
KS
Organisation or Company
The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
Type of organisation or company
National authority,
Regional authority,
Local authority,
Network of local and/or regional authorities,
Public service
Country
Other (Norway)
City
Oslo
Language for original content
Other
Norwegian
Key Area
Waste management,
Secondary raw materials,
Innovation and investments
Project elaborated in partnership
No
Sector
Governance,
Public services
Scope
Municipalities
Submitted by
Stig Bang-Andersen
Start/End date
to
Ongoing
No
Expected end date
04/2018
Type of funding
Public
Kommune Norge - Stig Bang-Andersen
Contact Details
Description

The project "Do we have waste in 2030?" was conducted in May-November 2017 by Ramboll on behalf of KS.

The purpose of the assignment has been to highlight the possibilities the municipalities have to accommodate a more circular economy in the future.

The transition to a circular economy involves a systemic shift where all parts of the value chain of a product play a role, from extracting raw materials from nature, new designs and ways of producing the products, new business models for consumption, reuse and repair of the products to new ways of utilizing the materials from old products in new production.

As local community developers, planning authorities, waste management actors and key actors in environmental work, the municipalities have a significant responsibility. This report points to some of the key responsibilities and opportunities for the Norwegian municipalities when approaching a more circular future.

Check the Report (NO)

Main activity field
Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households for own use
Administrative and support service activities
Information and communication
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security
Public services
Identified challenge (s)
Access to relevant information and assessments
Cooperation with authorities
Definitions of waste
Organisational structures
Quality issues
Useful application of recycled materials
Waste cross-border shipment
Main results

Municipalities' active role in the conversion:

  • invite the waste industry to take an advisory part in several areas of the municipalities. This applies, for example, to involvement in counselling in planning, both strategic (societal plans) and operational (regulatory plans);
  • clarify the municipality's ownership strategy to the waste company. Develop the dialogue with the waste company on how they can best share their knowledge with local businesses, research and education sector and the rest of the municipality;
  • use its role as a purchaser to set demands on recyclable products. In consultation with the waste companies, the municipality, as a major purchaser, can already today influence positive product development in the market.