PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES IN REDUCING WASTE IN THE ENVIRONMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15547/tjs.2025.s.02.065Keywords:
Circular Economy, Waste, RequirementsAbstract
This study examines the development of mechanisms aimed at achieving the objectives of the circular economy and addressing contemporary environmental challenges. Particular emphasis is placed on enhancing resource efficiency through the reduction of environmental waste. The research identifies key challenges to waste reduction at both macro and micro levels. The study further aims to analyze shifts in individual environmental behavior, using case examples from one of the main districts of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. The results of the study provide guidelines for managing sustainable consumer behavior.
References
Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 ('European Climate Law')
Going climate-neutral by 2050, A strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate-neutral EU economy
Meseguer-Sánchez, V., Gálvez-Sánchez, FJ, Molina-Moreno, V., & Wandosell -Fernández-de-Bobadilla, G. The main research characteristics of the development of the concept of the circular economy concept: a global analysis and the future agenda. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 9, 704387. 2021
Sterev, N. New industrial business models: From linear to circular economy approach. Trakia Journal of Sciences, 17 (Suppl.1), 511 – 523. 2019, https://doi.org/10.15547/tjs.2019.s.01.082
Circular economy country profile 2024 – Bulgaria, ETC-CE Report 2024/Bulgaria
Simpson, D. Institutional pressure and waste reduction: The role of investments in waste reduction resources. International Journal of Production Economics, 139(1), 330-339, 2012.
Strategy and Action Plan for the Transition to a Circular Economy for the Period 2022-2027 https://www.strategy.bg/StrategicDocuments/View.aspx?lang=bg-BG&Id=1559 (in Bulgarian)
Çalıyurt, KT (Ed.). New Approaches to CSR, Sustainability and Accountability, Volume I. Springer, 2020.
Bag, S., Gupta, S., and Kumar, S. Industry 4.0 Adoption and 10R advance Manufacturing Capabilities for Sustainable Development. Int. J. Prod. Econ. 231, 107844, 2021
Li, C., Ahmad, SF, Ayassrah, AYBA, Irshad, M., Telba, AA, Awwad, EM, & Majid, MI. Green production and green technology for sustainability: The mediating role of waste reduction and energy use. Heliyon, 9(12). 2023.
Simpson, D. Institutional pressure and waste reduction: The role of investments in waste reduction resources. International Journal of Production Economics, 139(1), 330-339. 2012
Kabirifar, K., Mojtahedi, M., Wang, CC, & Tam, VW. Effective construction and demolition waste management assessment through waste management hierarchy; a case of Australian large construction companies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 312, 127790. 2021
Hamilton, S. and Richards, T. Food policy and household food waste.2019
FAO. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018. Available: http://www.fao.org/3/i9553en/i9553en.pdf
Abdallah, M., Talib, M., Feroz, S., Nasir, Q., Abdalla, H., & Mahfood, B. Artificial intelligence applications in solid waste management: A systematic research review. Waste Management, 109, 231-246, 2020.
Naim, A. Relevance and Definition of Consumer Behavior for Successful Marketing. International Journal of Studies in Advanced Education, 1(2), 12–24, 2022.
Walters, CG, & Paul, GW. Consumer Behavior: An Integrated Framework. Homewood, IL: Richard D. Irwin, 7, 1970.
Brown, B, Hanson, M, Liverman, D, Merideth, RW Global Sustainability: Toward Definition. Environmental Management, 11(6), 713–719,1987.
Schaefer, A., & Crane, A. Addressing sustainability and consumption. Journal of macromarketing, 25(1), 76-92.2005
Markowitz, E, & Milfont, T. Sustainable consumer behavior: A multilevel perspective. Current Opinion in Psychology, 8, 10–14, 2016.
Antonides, G. (Ed.). Sustainable Consumer Behaviour: A Collection of Empirical Studies. MDPI, 2017.
Kostadinova, E. Sustainable consumer behavior: A literature review. Economic Alternatives, 2, 226–234, 2016.
Gsottbauer, E., & van den Bergh, JCJM. Environmental Policy Theory Given Bounded Rationality and Other-regarding Preferences. Environmental and Resource Economics, 49(2), 263-304. 2011.
Ottman, JA. Green marketing: Challenges & opportunities. Lincolnwood, IL: NTC Business Books. 1993
Gabriel, Y., and T. Lang. The unmanageable consumer: Contemporary consumption and its fragmentation. London: Sage. 1995
Schaefer, A., Crane, A., Addressing Sustainability and Consumption, Journal of Macromarketing, 25(1),76-92, 2005.
Benjamin P. Goldstein and al Environ. Res. Lett. 19 084006. 2022
Goldstein, B., Gounaridis, D., Newell, J., Pelton, R., & Schmitt, J. Do we accurately measure what we consume?. Environmental Research Letters, 19(8), 084006, 2024.
Guazzini, A., Valdrighi., G., Fiorenza, M., Duradoni, M. The Relationship Between Connectedness to Nature and Pro-Environmental Behaviors: A Systematic Review. Sustainability, 17, 3686. 2025
Nguyen, K. & Tran, M. How Minimalism Drives Green Purchase Intention in Collectivist Cultures. Sustainability, 17 (1), 332, 2025.
Goswami, R., Chatterjee, S., & Sakashita, M. Sustainable consumption in the East: Cross-cultural variation of antecedents of green purchase intention based on religiosity, spirituality and values. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 49 (3), 1–15, 2025.
Boyer, RHW, Hunka, AD, & Björner Brauer, H. Why some consumers choose circular and others do not: The social practice of shopping for circular garments. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 2025.
Lee, S. ConsumerAttitudes and Purchase Intentions toward Eco-Friendly Agricultural and Food Packaging: ACase Study in Chungnam Province, South Korea. Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences. 7(3): 47–57, 2025.
Canoğlu, M., & Üstüner, S. The moderating role of environmental knowledge in influencing sustainable consumption intention of Generation Z through personal norms, social norms, and environmental awareness. Innovative Marketing, 21 (1), 14–25, 2025.
Harantová, V., & Mazanec, J. Generation Z's Shopping Behavior in Second -Hand Brick-and-Mortar Stores: Emotions, Gender Dynamics, and Environmental Awareness. Behavioral Sciences, 15(4), 413, 2025.
Waste Trade, Council of Europe, available at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/bg/policies/waste-trade/#0
Simpson, D. Institutional pressure and waste reduction: The role of investments in waste reduction resources. International Journal of Production Economics, 139(1), 330-339. 2012
Sterew, N.; Ivanova, V. From sustainability to a model of circular economy—The example of Bulgaria. In Proceedings of the Proceedings 2019 6th International Conference on Education and Social Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 4–6 February 2019; pp. 757–766
Municipal waste generation, available at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Municipal_waste_statistics
Waste Trade, Council of Europe, available at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/bg/policies/waste-trade/#0
Sharma, R. Plastic Waste Management: Challenges and Potential Solutions With the application of AI. International Journal of Sustainable Development Through AI, ML and IoT, 2(1), 1-27. 2023
European Newsroom: Recycling and Management on waste in Europe, available at: https://www.bta.bg/bg/news/world/648344-evropeyski-nyuzrum-retsikli - rane -i- upravlenie - na - otpadatsite -v- Evropa
Reza, S, Chowdhury, M, Hossain, S., Hasanuzzaman, M., Shawon, RER, Chowdhury, BR, & Rana, M. Global Plastic Waste Management: Analyzing Trends, Economic and Social Implications, and Predictive Modeling Using Artificial Intelligence. Journal of Environmental and Agricultural Studies, 5(3), 42-58. 2024
Van Fan, Y., Jiang, P., Tan, RR, Aviso, KB, You, F., Zhao, X., ... & Klemeš , J. Forecasting plastic waste generation and interventions or environmental hazard mitigation. Journal of hazardous materials, 424, 127330. 2022
Alsabt, R., Alkhaldi, W., Adenle, Y, & Alshuwaikhat, H. Optimizing waste management strategies through artificial intelligence and machine learning economic and environmental impact study. Cleaner Waste Systems, 8, 100158. 2024
Kabirifar, K., Mojtahedi, M., Wang, C., Tam, VWY. Construction and demolition waste management contributing factors coupled with reduce, reuse, and recycle strategies for effective waste management: a review. J. Clean. Prod. 263, 121265. 2020
Zhang, C., Hu, M., Yang, X., Miranda-Xicotencatl, B., Sprecher, B., Di Maio, F., Zhong, X., Tukker, A. Upgrading construction and demolition waste management from downcycling to recycling in the Netherlands. J. Clean. Prod. 266, 121718. 2020
Zhang, C., Hu, M., Di Maio, F., Sprecher, B., Yang, X., & Tukker, A. An overview of the waste hierarchy framework for analyzing the circularity in construction and demolition waste management in Europe. Science of the Total Environment, 803, 149892. 2022
DG Environment, Resource-efficient use of mixed wastes, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/studies/mixed_waste.htm. 215 SWD (2018) 17 final. Commission Staff Working Document. 'Measuring progress towards
Construction and demolition waste, European Commission, available at: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/construction-and-demolition-waste_en
Akpan, V., & Olukanni, D. Hazardous waste management: An African overview. Recycling, 5(3), 15. 2020
Hazardous waste generation, Waste statistics, 2024, Eurostat, available at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Waste_statistics
Authors, Annual Report 2024, Sofia Team, 2025, https://ekipnasofia.bg/doklad-2024/
Authors, ECONOMY Report for 2018, Vision for Sofia, 2019, https://vizia.sofia.bg/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Economic_profiles.pdf
Kyoseva V., Todorova E., Dombalov I. Household waste in Bulgaria – the environment, health and sustainable development, Lesovdska misl 2 (38). 2009
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
