Abstract
Our current industrialized economy is essentially a linear model in which resource consumption follows a “take-make-consume-dispose” pattern where natural resources are harvested for the manufacturing of products, which are then disposed of after consumption. As such, it has become increasingly clear that the current economic model is untenable due to a growing shortage of materials, increased levels of pollution, increased material demand, and growing demand for responsible products by consumers. In contrast, the circular economy aims to decouple economic growth from resource use and associated environmental impacts. Cities can guide the development of the circular economy by implementing policy innovations that encourage all sectors of the economy to follow the 5R approach of reduce, reuse, recycle, restore, and recover.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Berliner Wasserbetriebe. (2020). We recycle phosphorus to fertilizer. Retrieved from https://www.bwb.de/de/4951.php
Brears, R. C. (2018). Natural resource management and the circular economy. Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Brears, R. C. (2020a). Building circular economy cities. In The Palgrave handbook of climate resilient societies (pp. 1–23). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Brears, R. C. (2020b). Developing the circular water economy. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.
Building and Construction Authority. (2020). Building Retrofit Energy Efficiency Financing (BREEF) Scheme. Retrieved from https://www1.bca.gov.sg/buildsg/sustainability/green-mark-incentive-schemes/building-retrofit-energy-efficiency-financing-breef-scheme#:~:text=Contact%20Details&text=The%20BREEF%20scheme%2C%20facilitated%20by,equipment%2C%20installation%20and%20professional%20fees
City of Toronto. (2020). Electronic waste. Retrieved from https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/recycling-organics-garbage/electronic-waste/
City West Water. (2020). Stormwater Harvesting Partnering Fund. Retrieved from https://www.citywestwater.com.au/saving_water/partnering_fund
International Resource Panel. (2018). The weight of cities: Resource requirements of future urbanization. Retrieved from https://www.resourcepanel.org/reports/weight-cities
Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., & Hekkert, M. (2017). Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 127, 221–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.005.
Morseletto, P. (2020). Restorative and regenerative: Exploring the concepts in the circular economy. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 24(4), 763–773. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12987.
OECD. (2018). Global Material Resources Outlook to 2060. Economic drivers and environmental consequences: Highlights. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/environment/waste/highlights-global-material-resources-outlook-to-2060.pdf
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. (2019). Onsite water reuse grant program rules. Retrieved from https://sfwater.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentID=5445
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Brears, R.C. (2022). Circular Economy Cities. In: Brears, R.C. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87745-3_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87745-3_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-87744-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-87745-3
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences