Public Perceptions of Circular Economy in Latvia: Insights for Municipal Governance

Abstract

The circular economy (CE) supports sustainable development through local action, with municipalities playing a central role in governance, service provision, and citizen involvement. This paper presents a systemic analysis of public attitudes, behaviours, and perceptions related to CE, aiming to identify governance gaps and recommend strategies to align implementation with societal needs. Data was collected through a survey across five consumption categories: food, textiles, plastics, electronics, and mobility. The findings indicated that the public is generally willing to adopt circular practices provided adequate services are available. The study applied the 10R framework to categorize circular strategies and mapped services to these relevant governance instruments: infrastructure, economic and planning instruments, education and information, and collaboration. A document analysis of multi-level governance frameworks further contextualized the results. A polarized engagement pattern emerged: preventive strategies like Reduce and Repair are supported by both public behaviour and municipal services, while end-of-pipe approaches such as Recycling and Landfilling continue to dominate. In contrast, mid-level strategies (Reuse, Refurbish, Remanufacture, and Repurpose) are significantly underrepresented. This gap highlights a critical shortfall in governance and service provisioning. The study concludes that advancing CE requires targeted interventions in infrastructure, improved access to circular services, and greater public awareness to enable broader participation.