Article
The Sustainability of Waste Management Models in
Circular Economies
Carmen Avilés-Palacios
1
and Ana Rodríguez-Olalla
2,
*
Citation: Avilés-Palacios, C.;
Rodríguez-Olalla, A. The
Sustainability of Waste Management
Models in Circular Economies.
Sustainability 2021, 13, 7105.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137105
Academic Editor: João Carlos de
Oliveira Matias
Received: 14 April 2021
Accepted: 14 May 2021
Published: 24 June 2021
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1
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de
Madrid, c/José Antonio Novais 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain; carmen.aviles@upm.es
2
Departamento Economía de la Empresa (ADO), Economía Aplicada II y Fundamentos Análisis Económico,
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Paseo de los Artilleros s/n, Vicálvaro, 28032 Madrid, Spain
* Correspondence: ana.rodriguez.olalla@urjc.es; Tel.: +34-910671632
Abstract:
The circular economy (CE) is considered a key economic model to meet the challenge of
sustainable development. Strenous efforts are focused on the transformation of waste into resources
that can be reintroduced into the economic system through proper management. In this way, the linear
and waste-producing value chain problems are solved, making them circular, and more sustainable
solutions are proposed in those chains already benefiting from circular processes, so that waste
generation and waste are reduced on the one hand, and on the other, the non-efficient consumption
of resources decreases. In the face of this current tide, there is another option that proposes a certain
nuance, based on the premise that, although circular systems promote sustainability, it does not mean
that they are in themselves sustainable, given that, in the first place, the effects of CE on sustainable
development are not fully known and, on the other hand, the CE model includes the flow of materials,
with only scant consideration of the flow of non-material resources (water, soil and energy). This
paper aims to contrast both currents from an empirical viewpoint. To achieve this, a sustainability
analysis of the circular waste management systems measured through a sustainability indicator, the
carbon footprint (CF), as a main sustainable indicator in climate change action, is carried out. A
crucial difference between circular models that promote waste management and those that do not
is found in the collective systems of extended producer responsibility (or CPR). One of the most
efficient recycling processes in Europe, waste tire management, has been chosen. Thus, the aim is to
verify the sense of including environmental sustainability indicators, as CF, in the process of these
systems. A sustainability management model (SBA) applies to End-of Life tire collection systems
(ELT). This model is based on the accumulation of environmental impacts through the activities
that generate them. To be transparent, this study requires a publicly recognized CF, so the study is
focused on SIGNUS, the main Spanish waste tires CPR. The results achieved allow us to conclude
that CF is much lower using CPR than non-linear processes. Despite the role that CPR have in the
management and use of waste as secondary raw material, it is a priority to focus efforts on their
redesign in order to reduce waste. In terms of circular economy, all actions are necessary in order to
achieve system efficiencies, even when externalities occur in this process.
Keywords: circular economy; sustainability; sustainable development; waste management
1. Introduction
Circular economy (‘CE’) emerged as an “umbrella” concept in 2010 in order to cre-
ate an economic system in which the use of resources is more efficient [
1
]. It pursues
the circularization of productive processes; the creation of closed cycles of materials and
energy flows [
2
,
3
]. Certain authors, according to Sauvé et al., considered that the CE
might become the tool for sustainable development [
4
]. That is why all the stakeholders
involved—governments, investors, companies and civil society—display growing interest
in its promotion [
5
,
6
]. This interest scant bearing on the economic and environmental
dimensions [
5
]. Not all systems that introduce circular principles, encourage circularity
Sustainability 2021, 13, 7105. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137105 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability
