Waste has been a part of our lives since time immemorial and has always had a huge impact on the environment, and more importantly, on human health. We are currently still largely served by a linear model of waste management, following the »take, make, exploit and dispose of« principle, but the requirements of the European Union make the transition into a model of circular economy inevitable. In the Bachelor's thesis ahead, my aim is to present how the transition into the new model of waste management will contribute to better water, air and soil quality and, consequently, in improved quality of life.
The Bachelor's thesis is concerned with the model of circular economy. It describes the origin, schools that have contributed to the development of the model and the expected results if implemented. The thesis starts of by portraying the current state of the environment, statistics on the volume of waste, followed by the introduction of waste management companies. These point out different factors that need to be taken care of in order for the transition to take place. Next, the advantages and disadvantages that may occur with the transition are presented, as well as the opportunities and threats for the companies. There are plenty of companies that have incorporated responsible waste management into their business processes and, through different forms of waste disposal, increased their profits.
Waste management refers to the restoration, reuse, repair, replacement and conversion of the products and rental products. The aim of the thesis is, besides the general analysis of the circular economy, to introduce the Ellen MacArtur Foundation, the lead organization to assist with the transition into a circular economy, which Slovenia is a member of. Disclosed, a comparative analysis of two EU-28 countries, the Republic of Slovenia and Czech Republic, can be found. The thesis contributes to the understanding of circular economy, proposes possible solutions and business opportunities for companies and promotes responsible waste management of individuals.
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