Chapter 1: Waste and Circular Economy

The generation and management of waste is extensively associated with the history of humankind. Over centuries, humans have developed strategies to deal with the different types of waste generated. However, the increasing amount of waste that has been produced and released into the environment since the mid-20th century has generated unprecedented environmental and human health challenges. In order to address these challenges and improve the sustainability of the (eco)systems it is necessary to perceive this waste as a resource, and not just as a burden. However, to fully unlock the potential of waste, innovative solutions are required. This chapter provides a historical perspective on waste management, identifying the major challenges in the field and the path to follow in order to achieve a sustainable management of waste and ultimately a zero-waste society, in which nothing is waste as everything can be reused or its components recovered.