Assessment of the Waste Management System in Krakow as an Element of Circular Economy

Abstract

Building a waste management system requires considering many aspects for the assessment of its functioning. The transition from a linear system to a circular economy requires taking into account not only technological but also economic and social factors. The waste management system in Krakow is a comprehensive solution that considers all factors and aspects, allowing for the assessment of technology, economic justification of costs and social acceptance. The paper presents a comprehensive structure of the system with all the factors enabling the transition from a linear to a circular economy. In Kraków, over 200,000 tonnes of mixed waste are collected annually and almost 150,000 tonnes of selectively collected waste. Such potential allows for a landfill reduction below 10% by weight and the achievement of the required recycling levels.