Cited by 8Wastewater Treatment and ReuseSustainable Industrial EcologySustainable Supply Chain Management

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 51 of the 51 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 2 of the 42 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

The Importance of Being Consistent: Circularity Policy Aims in the European Wastewater Sector

Open access
Mäkitie, Tuukka, Damman, Sigrid, Hansen, Teis, Haugland, Bård T., Lund, Henrik B.·2025·Circular Economy and Sustainability

Abstract

Abstract The challenge of governing transitions towards circular economy cuts across different levels and sectors. However, existing literature has had scarce attention to the multi-level and multi-sectoral nature of circular economy governance. This article investigates these topics through a multiple case study of a little studied sector in the literature on the governance of circular economy: wastewater. The article analyses the consistency of public policy aims between different levels (European Union [EU], national and local), and sectors (such as agriculture and wastewater) in three cases: (1) wastewater reuse for irrigation of urban greeneries in Czechia, (2) nutrient recovery from wastewater for fertilizer production in Norway, and (3) resource recovery from wastewater for use in building and construction sector in the Netherlands. Through the analysis of policy documents, the article illustrates the importance of consistent policy aims for the governance of circular economy. The article shows that inconsistent policy aims (a) between governance levels, especially between EU and national levels, and (b) across sectors, such as wastewater and agriculture, complicates the uptake of circular economy solutions. However, the article also demonstrates that policy consistency alone is not sufficient for accelerating the transitions towards circular economy.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This paper analyzes policy-aim consistency across governance levels and sectors for circular wastewater solutions in three European cases. It finds that vertical and horizontal inconsistencies complicate uptake, but consistency alone is not sufficient to accelerate circular economy transitions.

Key findings

  • In Czechia, the EU-level water reuse aim (A2a) was not adopted in the national Water Act; the Ministry of Agriculture stated in 2023 that it did not intend to amend legislation to accommodate water reuse for irrigation, and by summer 2024 water reuse had not materialized locally due to costs and regulatory uncertainties.
  • In Norway, nutrient recovery (A2b) was established at all governance levels but with sectoral inconsistencies; struvite recovery showed high consistency, while sludge-based products faced EU trade limits, and the Regulation Relating to Fertilisers of Organic Origin requires hygienized/stabilized sludge and limits soil improvement mixtures to no more than 30% sewage sludge.
  • In the Netherlands, resource recovery for building and construction (A2c) was consistent across levels, though stronger at national and local than EU level; the national Circular Economy Strategy targets 50% less primary abiotic resources by 2030 and full circularity by 2050, and the National Approach to Biobased Building specifies that by 2030 more than 30% of new riverbank protections shall be made of biocomposite or willow wood, yet uptake remained limited partly due to high costs.
  • Overall, inconsistent policy aims between governance levels—especially EU and national—and across sectors such as wastewater and agriculture complicate the uptake of circular economy solutions, but policy consistency alone is not sufficient.

Methods

  • Qualitative multiple case study of three European circular wastewater strategies: wastewater reuse for urban irrigation in Czechia, nutrient recovery for fertilizer production in Norway, and resource recovery for building and construction in the Netherlands.
  • Data included key trans-national, national, and local policy documents from public databases and websites, triangulated with semi-structured interviews and workshops; prior governance and business-model analyses were used for scoping.
  • Analysis proceeded through scoping, mapping, and analytical phases, identifying high-level goals and middle-level objectives, assessing consistency across governance levels and sectors, and checking whether objectives were mirrored in implemented policy instruments.

Limitations

  • The paper states that all case studies are in relatively similar European countries, limiting generalizability to contexts with highly different political systems, wastewater-sector organization, and socio-economic conditions; it suggests Global South analyses would complement the study.
  • The paper states that it omitted other policy aspects, including coherence and comprehensiveness of policy mixes, and policy processes.
  • Evident from the text: the study is a qualitative three-case design relying on policy documents and supplementary interviews/workshops, with interview data not publicly available and no quantitative measurement of consistency or outcomes.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s43615-025-00665-6

Cites

51 of 51 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

83 No basis given · 33 Own interpretation · 20 Not checked yet · 18 Own result · 8 No full text of the sources · 2 Own method · 1 Supported · 1 Partly supported · 1 Sources not found · accuracy not yet measured

Verify all 23 references — free account
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 57
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 52
84 of 84
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In most cases, circular solutions create new value chains where wastewater-based resources become input materials in other sectors, such as agriculture or processing sectors.

    “In most cases, circular solu -tions create new value chains where wastewater-based resources become input materials in other sectors, such as in agriculture or processing sectors.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The key policies of the receiving sectors are not necessarily aligned with the goals of increasing circularity or introducing wastewater-based materials as input resources.

    “However, the key policies of the receiving sectors are not necessarily aligned with the goals of increasing circularity or introducing wastewater-based materials as input resources.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The governing policies are developed at different levels of governance (local, national and trans-national), whose policy goals also may not be aligned.

    “Furthermore, the governing policies are developed at different levels of governance (local, national and trans-national), whose policy goals also may not be aligned.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Ambitious EU policies occasionally lack complementary policies at the national or local levels, and vice versa.

    “For example, ambitious European Union (EU) poli -cies occasionally lack complementary policies at the national or local levels, and vice versa.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Policy aims and means evolve over time and may differ between governance levels.

    “Policy aims and means evolve over time and may differ between governance levels.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Governance at one level may influence governance at other levels.

    “Governance at one level may influence governance at other levels.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Water reuse in irrigation would reduce the pressure on the limited potable water resources, particularly helpful during droughts.

    “Water reuse in irrigation would reduce the pressure on the limited potable water resources, particularly helpful during droughts, such as the one experienced during 2014-2019.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The implementation of CE in Czech wastewater sector is affected by the strong focus on protecting the environment after pollution during cold war era.

    “The implementation of CE in Czech wastewater sector is affected by the strong focus on protecting the environment after pollution during cold war era.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Norway implements most EU policies and regulations despite not being an EU member state.

    “Although not a member state, most EU policies and regulations are implemented in Norway.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There is a tradition in Norway for spreading treated wastewater sludge directly on farmland without payment from farmers.

    “There is a tradition in Norway for spreading treated wastewater sludge directly on farmland without payment from farmers.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The costs of implementing UWWTD solutions in some cases may outweigh the benefits.

    “There are nevertheless tensions regarding the UWWTD, since the costs of implementing solutions in line with the new requirements in some cases may outweigh the benefits.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Struvite recovery has perceived benefits in all related domains.

    “due to perceived benefits in all related domains.”
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Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

1 of 1

Citations

Cites

Show all 50 references

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Sedlacek Z, Novotna J, Forejtnikova M (2024) Protected areas of natural water accumulation– their meaning in the current system of water environment protection. Water Manage Tech Economical Inform J 66(1):28–36
  2. Havekes H et al (2017) Water governance: The Dutch water authority model. Dutch water Authorities: The Hague, the Netherlands

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Metadata

Authors
Mäkitie, T., Damman, S., Hansen, T., Haugland, B. T., & Lund, H. B.
Affiliations
  • SINTEF Digital (NO)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO)
Corresponding author
Mäkitie, Tuukka
Venue
Circular Economy and Sustainability
Published
2025-07-03
Volume
5
Issue
8
Pages
7197-7219
ISSN
  • 2730-597X (ISSN-L)
  • 2730-5988
OpenAlex
W4411981190
Cited by
8
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 1
FWCI
3.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Circular Economy and Sustainability (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
SINTEF
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering › Sustainable Industrial Ecology
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Sustainable Supply Chain Management
Keywords
circular economy governance, wastewater sector, policy coherence, multi-level governance, European Union policy, nutrient recovery, wastewater reuse for irrigation, urban green space, fertilizer production, resource recovery, construction industry, agricultural policy

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