Waste management drivers towards a circular economy in the global south - The Colombian case

Abstract

Circular Economy (CE) turned into one of the most popular topics worldwide for presenting itself as the solution to problems linked to the traditional "take-make-consume-dispose" system. But, how can CE be addressed as public policies worldwide? While there are ambitious and committed strategies in the European Union and Asia, the path that emerging economies are taking is poorly researched. Therefore, we selected Colombia, a Latin American country which is beginning to implement new public policies that are on par with global concerns. Furthermore, its waste management panorama has been transformed in recent decades due to its legal framework restructuring, differently than others in the region. This article aimed to elucidate which drivers have influenced the waste management policies in Colombia based on its historical context and how these drivers impacted Municipal Waste Management (MWM) systems. Amongst the principal drivers identified, we highlight "financial sustainability" and "inclusive recycling", which have allowed improvements towards a more sustainable waste management in the country. Moreover, it was possible to understand how the current legal framework was structured and its future challenges. This study constitutes a knowledge base for scholars and policymakers from other emerging economies, creating a potential to verify the relationship and antagonisms between waste management drivers and how they affect public policy implementation.

Keywords: Circular economy; Informal recycling sector; Latin America; Public policies; Waste pickers.