Evaluating the effectiveness of circular economy initiatives in reducing urban waste and promoting sustainable development: A case study of Greece

Spinthiropoulos Konstantinos; Stavros Kalogiannidis; Fotios Chatzitheodoridis; Dimitrios Kalfas; Ioanna Parri

doi:10.31893/multirev.2025316

Keywords:

circular economy

waste management in urban areas

material recovery facilities (MRFs)

waste generation

industrial symbiosis

sustainable development

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of circular economy interventions on waste management in urban centers of Greece, focusing on four key areas: Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) models, Industrial Symbiosis (IS), and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted using structured questionnaires completed by 175 policymakers, environmental management specialists, and urban planners. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analyses to assess the effectiveness of these interventions in addressing urban waste challenges. Findings revealed that 41.7% of participants considered MRFs highly effective in reducing landfill waste and enhancing recycling processes. Additionally, 42.9% expressed strong support for PaaS models to improve resource efficiency, minimize waste generation, and encourage sustainable consumption patterns. Industrial Symbiosis was deemed highly beneficial by 48.0% of respondents, promoting collaboration between industries to optimize resource utilization. Meanwhile, 38.9% believed EPR policies significantly improved waste management by enforcing producer accountability and fostering sustainable production. Regression analysis demonstrated that all four variables had positive, significant correlations with urban waste management, with an R-squared value of 0.901, indicating that 90.1% of the variation in waste management outcomes could be explained by these interventions. The study underscores the importance of circular economy strategies in promoting sustainable urban development, responsible waste disposal, and efficient resource management in Greece. To enhance effectiveness, policymakers should increase funding for MRFs, raise public awareness of PaaS models, introduce favorable policies for Industrial Symbiosis, and strengthen the implementation of EPR regulations. Additionally, investing in technological advancements and fostering stakeholder collaboration can further optimize waste reduction strategies. Future research should explore long-term impacts, integrate qualitative insights, and assess policy adaptability to emerging environmental challenges for a more comprehensive and resilient circular economy framework.
References
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Konstantinos, S., Kalogiannidis, S., Chatzitheodoridis, F., Kalfas, D., & Parri , I. (2025). Evaluating the effectiveness of circular economy initiatives in reducing urban waste and promoting sustainable development: A case study of Greece . Multidisciplinary Reviews, 8(10), 2025316. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2025316

[1] Aiguobarueghian, I., Adanma, U. M., Ogunbiyi, E. O., & Solomon, N. O. (2024). Waste management and circular economy: A review of sustainable practices and economic benefits. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 22(2), 1708–1719. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.22.2.1517

[2] Angelis-Dimakis, A., Arampatzis, G., Alexopoulos, A., Pantazopoulos, A., Vyrides, I., Chourdakis, N., & Angelis, V. (2022). Waste management and the circular economy in Cyprus—The case of the SWAN project. Environments, 9(2), 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments9020016

[3] Avdiushchenko, A., & Zając, P. (2019). Circular economy indicators as a supporting tool for European regional development policies. Sustainability, 11(11), 3025. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113025

[4] Batsioula, M., Malamakis, A., Patsios, S. I., Geroliolios, D., Skoutida, S., Melas, L., & Banias, G. F. (2022). Innovative bio-based circular economy schemes: The case of biomass and food waste utilization as an enabler of regional resilience. In Conference on Sustainable Urban Mobility (pp. 1795–1806). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-23721-8_138

[5] Bocken, N. M., de Pauw, I., Bakker, C., & van der Grinten, B. (2016). Product design and business model strategies for a circular economy. Journal of Industrial and Production Engineering, 33(5), 308–320. https://doi.org/10.1080/21681015.2016.1172124

[6] Bryman, A., & Bell, E. (2015). Business research methods. Oxford University Press.

[7] Cervantes Puma, G. C., Salles, A., & Bragança, L. (2024). Nexus between urban circular economies and sustainable development goals: A systematic literature review. Sustainability, 16(6), 2500. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062500

[8] Chachami-Chalioti, S. E., Emmanouil, C., Latinopoulos, D., & Kungolos, A. (2024). Circular economy aspects of the new national solid waste management plan and citizens' engagement in Northern Greece. Circular Economy and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-024-00374-6

[9] Chertow, M. R. (2000). Industrial symbiosis: Literature and taxonomy. Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, 25(1), 313–337. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.energy.25.1.313

[10] Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications.

[11] Dincă, G., Milan, A. A., Andronic, M. L., Pasztori, A. M., & Dincă, D. (2022). Does circular economy contribute to smart cities’ sustainable development? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(13), 7627. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137627

[12] Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2013). Towards the circular economy: Vol. 1: An economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition. Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

[13] Fatimah, Y. A., Govindan, K., Sasongko, N. A., & Hasibuan, Z. A. (2024). The critical success factors for sustainable resource management in circular economy: Assessment of urban mining maturity level. Journal of Cleaner Production, 143084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143084

[14] Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M. P., & Hultink, E. J. (2017). The circular economy – A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757–768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048

[15] Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C., & Ulgiati, S. (2016). A review on circular economy: The expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 114, 11–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.007

[16] Ioannidis, F., Kosmidou, K., & Papanastasiou, D. (2023). Public awareness of renewable energy sources and circular economy in Greece. Renewable Energy, 206, 1086–1096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2023.02.084

[17] Kalfas, D., Kalogiannidis, S., Papadopoulou, C.-I., & Chatzitheodoridis, F. (2024). The value of periurban forests and their multifunctional role: A scoping review of the context of and relevant recurring problems. In M. B. Sahana (Ed.), Remote sensing and GIS for peri-urban research (1st ed., Vol. 11, pp. 329–345). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-15832-2.00014-9

[18] Kalogiannidis, S., Kalfas, D., Papadopoulou, C.-I., & Chatzitheodoridis, F. (2024). Perspectives on the role of peri-urban dynamics on environmental sustainability: The case study of Greece. In M. B. Sahana (Ed.), Remote sensing and GIS for peri-urban research (Vol. 11, pp. 597–616). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-15832-2.00026-5

[19] Korhonen, J., Nuur, C., Feldmann, A., & Birkie, S. E. (2018). Circular economy as an essentially contested concept. Journal of Cleaner Production, 175, 544–552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.111

[20] Kyriakopoulos, G. L., Kapsalis, V. C., Aravossis, K. G., Zamparas, M., & Mitsikas, A. (2019). Evaluating circular economy under a multi-parametric approach: A technological review. Sustainability, 11(21), 6139. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11216139

[21] Murray, A., Skene, K., & Haynes, K. (2017). The circular economy: An interdisciplinary exploration of the concept and application in a global context. Journal of Business Ethics, 140(3), 369–380. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2693-2

[22] Pallant, J. (2020). SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS. Routledge.

[23] Ragazou, K., Zournatzidou, G., Sklavos, G., & Sariannidis, N. (2024). Transitioning from a circular to a waste-based urban metabolism: An urban organism strategy toward an efficient climate-neutral future agenda. Urban Science. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci

[24] Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2016). Research methods for business students. Pearson Education Limited.

[25] Stahel, W. R. (2016). The circular economy. Nature, 531(7595), 435–438. https://doi.org/10.1038/531435a

[26] Taherdoost, H. (2016). Sampling methods in research methodology; How to choose a sampling technique for research. International Journal of Academic Research in Management, 5(2), 18–27. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3205035

[27] Zournatzidou, G. (2024). Evaluating executives and non-executives’ impact toward ESG performance in banking sector: An entropy weight and TOPSIS method. Administrative Sciences, 14(10), 255. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14100255

[28] Zournatzidou, G., Sklavos, G., Ragazou, K., & Sariannidis, N. (2024). Anti-competition and anti-corruption controversies in the European financial sector: Examining the anti-ESG factors with entropy weight and TOPSIS methods. Journal of Risk and Financial Management. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm

Abstract

References

How to cite