Exploring Waste Collection and Recycling Initiatives in India and Finland for Promoting Circular Economy

Abstract

This study aimed to compare waste collection and recycling initiatives in India and Finland to understand their role in supporting the transition towards a circular economy. The work adopted a future foresight approach, which meant using a systematic, participatory process to explore possible future scenarios and trends, aiming to inform decision-making and strategic planning. This meant several frameworks were used to understand the present situation, based on which the situations were identified. For a proper knowledge base, external and internal issues were studied. This used PESTEL and SWOT analysis, based on which quality outcomes were attained. This could have led to quality insights to approach the situation. The study used primary data from interviews with two Finnish and three Indian people who worked in waste management practices. The data collected from these interviews were analysed with thematic analysis to identify the right theme. This theme could have generated better work. The results showed that waste collection and recycling contributed to a circular economy. A comparative review of waste collection and recycling initiatives between India and Finland was done to explore effective practices. Several challenges were found to influence the adoption of waste collection and recycling practices in both countries. Strategic improvements were needed to enhance these practices. The study showed that waste collection and recycling had a strong linkage with the circular economy. The initiatives posed by Finland and India could have led to lower waste collection and this could have helped attain the best edge in the domain. However, some challenges, such as a lack of user awareness around such practices and ineffective systems, were identified. In such cases, effective activities like proper recycling and user awareness were needed to achieve better results. The study required stronger policy critique to generate improved waste collection processes, as well as cultural studies to promote better adherence to the principles of the circular economy.