The authors and editors of this volume state that with the intensive growth of global industrialization and urbanization, the consumption of various resources and materials, such as energy, minerals, and even water, is increasing at an amazing speed, which poses great pressure on material resources. In addition, the massive utilization of materials has led to low efficiency, resulting in great wastes of resources as well as serious environmental pollutions and degradation, which has severely hindered the sustainable development of economy and society. In order to transit to sustainable development, it is necessary to improved resource efficiency, and circular economy and waste valorization are the best alternative ways for achieving this goal.

This book aims to provide an in-depth description of circular economy and waste valorization, make assessments for circular economy and waste valorization in different regions and countries and determine the technological pathways and roadmap for achieving circular economy and waste valorization. More specifically:

(1) Conceptions and Theories: Concepts and definitions of circular economy and waste valorization and their nexus and contributions to sustainable development.

(2) Policy and Practice: Measurement and assessment of performance or sustainability for implementing circular economy and waste valorization.

(3) Pathways and Prospects: Identification and prioritization of the barriers, strategies, technologies, and pathways for achieving circular economy and waste valorization.

The book systematically and comprehensively introduces the definitions, concepts, framework and nexus of circular economy and waste valorization, analyzes and measures their performance and sustainability and provides the methods for investigating and prioritizing the barriers and strategies and determining the pathways and roadmap for their development.

Inhalt

1. Definition, Concepts, and Framework of Circular Economy and Waste Valorisation.- 2. The Nexus of Circular Economy and Waste Valorisation.- 3. Recent Trends and Advances on Technologies for Waste Valorisation: Towards a Sustainable Transition.- 4. Indicators and Tools for Sustainability Analysis and Performance Measurement of Circular Economy.- 5. Sustainable Behaviour in Circular Economy: An Analysis on Residents' Willingness and Motivation on Garbage Sorting and Recycling.- 6. Policy and Practice for Solid Waste Valorisation: Experience in European Countries.- 7. Performance Evaluation and Comparison for Solid Waste Valorisation: Evidence from China.- 8. Sustainability Assessment of Technologies for Solid Waste Valorisation under a Circular Economy.- 9. Performance Evaluation of a Circular Economy: An International Comparison.- 10. Transition to Circular Economy in China: Barriers Recognition and Strategy Prioritization.- 11. A Roadmap towards Waste Valorisation through Circular Economy in Developing Countries.- 12. New Outlook of Circular Economy and Waste Valorisation in the Context of COVID-19 pandemic.