City level circular transitions: Barriers and limits in Amsterdam, Utrecht and The Hague

摘要: Policymakers are embracing the circular economy (CE) as a means of harmonizing environmental and economic interactions, including at urban level. Whilst numerous studies cover CE practices, few papers how it is being implemented cities (hotspots material consumption, waste generation disconnected pollution) transitioning from linear-like processing materials to cyclical form. This paper addresses (a) applied driven city level, (b) what emerging transitional barriers limits such strategies? It compares case Amsterdam, Utrecht The Hague, especially Netherlands considered frontrunner. Utilising document analysis key national level strategies 67 interviews, we show that municipal instruments include public procurement, zoning laws, capacity building knowledge exchange these can mostly be purchases construction sector. Practitioners perceived initial suitable technologies deployment opportunities, low quality streams in comparison costs high-quality virgin inputs, difficulty addressing issues scale, linear mindset relevant actors. We argue core limitations for transitions instrumental scope influence value chains businesses, addition an overt focus on end-of-pipe actions opposed reducing reusing resources. research suggests multi-level policy integration needed alter enable greater reduction inputs changes actor behaviour.