IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i19p8542-d1756490.html

Towards a Circular Economy in Urban Households: Spatial Challenges of Waste Collection Under Residential Growth in Warsaw

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Rolewicz-Kalińska

    (Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-653 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Judyta Helena Wesołowska

    (Faculty of Architecture, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-659 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

The present article examines the relationship between the changing residential net floor area of residential units in Warsaw, driven by ongoing urban growth, and the spatial requirements for household municipal waste collection. Analyzing 20 years from 2003 to 2023 across 18 districts of Warsaw, this article examines how the interplay between building morphology, demographic structure, and municipal waste generation influences the spatial and infrastructural requirements for separate collection. The study panel regression and volume simulations were applied to assess these dynamics. The results demonstrate that the number of residents per unit is the strongest predictor of waste generation, while the effect of floor area is less robust but still relevant. Waste generation per unit increased by 20% during the study period, accompanied by a sevenfold rise in plastics and a nearly eightyfold increase in biowaste, which together impose growing spatial burdens on households and collection infrastructure. The study emphasizes the significance of integrating waste infrastructure planning with housing design, considering the urban areas’ heterogeneous and evolving nature (identified at the district level). In the transition to a circular economy, the results highlight the need for locally sensitive strategies that link everyday household waste management with systemic urban sustainability goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Rolewicz-Kalińska & Judyta Helena Wesołowska, 2025. "Towards a Circular Economy in Urban Households: Spatial Challenges of Waste Collection Under Residential Growth in Warsaw," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-26, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:19:p:8542-:d:1756490
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/19/8542/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/19/8542/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jannik Vetter-Gindele & Andreas Braun & Gebhard Warth & Tram Thi Quynh Bui & Felix Bachofer & Ludger Eltrop, 2019. "Assessment of Household Solid Waste Generation and Composition by Building Type in Da Nang, Vietnam," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Maciej Piekarski & Łukasz Bajda & Ewelina Gotkowska, 2021. "Transformation of Socialist Realistic Residential Architecture into a Contemporary Sustainable Housing Habitat—General Approach and the Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-29, December.
    3. Marzena Smol & Joanna Duda & Agnieszka Czaplicka-Kotas & Dominika Szołdrowska, 2020. "Transformation towards Circular Economy (CE) in Municipal Waste Management System: Model Solutions for Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-25, June.
    4. Chander Kant, 2025. "EU Accession, Institutional Change, Growth, and Human Capital," Economies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-21, June.
    5. Pinto, Francisco Silva & Simões, Pedro & Marques, Rui Cunha, 2017. "Raising the bar: The role of governance in performance assessments," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 38-47.
    6. Daniel Hoornweg & Perinaz Bhada-Tata & Chris Kennedy, 2013. "Environment: Waste production must peak this century," Nature, Nature, vol. 502(7473), pages 615-617, October.
    7. Kristyna Rybova, 2019. "Do Sociodemographic Characteristics in Waste Management Matter? Case Study of Recyclable Generation in the Czech Republic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-15, April.
    8. Juliane Jörissen & Carmen Priefer & Klaus-Rainer Bräutigam, 2015. "Food Waste Generation at Household Level: Results of a Survey among Employees of Two European Research Centers in Italy and Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-21, March.
    9. Pei Lin Yu & Norafida Ab Ghafar & Mastura Adam & Hong Ching Goh, 2022. "Understanding the Human Dimensions of Recycling and Source Separation Practices at the Household Level: An Evidence in Perak, Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-25, June.
    10. Anna Małgorzata Jachimowicz, 2022. "Morphology of Warsaw City Structure Using Urban Indexes and GIS Tools," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-27, January.
    11. Jolanta Latosińska & Dorota Miłek & Angelika Komór & Robert Kowalik, 2021. "Selective Collection of Municipal Waste in a Residential District with Multi-Family Buildings—Case Study from Poland," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-19, August.
    12. Letizia Appolloni & Daniela D’Alessandro, 2021. "Housing Spaces in Nine European Countries: A Comparison of Dimensional Requirements," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-19, April.
    13. Allevi, Elisabetta & Gnudi, Adriana & Konnov, Igor V. & Oggioni, Giorgia, 2021. "Municipal solid waste management in circular economy: A sequential optimization model," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    14. Cristian Silviu Banacu & Mihail Busu & Raluca Ignat & Carmen Lenuta Trica, 2019. "Entrepreneurial Innovation Impact on Recycling Municipal Waste. A Panel Data Analysis at the EU Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-13, September.
    15. Mar Carlos-Alberola & Antonio Gallardo Izquierdo & Francisco J. Colomer-Mendoza & Esther Barreda-Albert, 2021. "Design of a Municipal Solid Waste Collection System in Situations with a Lack of Resources: Nikki (Benin), a Case in Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-12, February.
    16. Adriano A. Santos & António Ferreira da Silva & António Gouveia & Carlos Felgueiras & Nídia Caetano, 2022. "Reducing Volume to Increase Capacity—Measures to Reduce Transport Energy for Recyclable Waste Collection," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-16, October.
    17. Di Foggia, Giacomo & Beccarello, Massimo, 2023. "Designing circular economy-compliant municipal solid waste management charging schemes," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    18. Anne Tervo & Jukka Hirvonen, 2020. "Solo dwellers and domestic spatial needs in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland," Housing Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(7), pages 1194-1213, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. G. Perkoulidis & A. Malamakis & G. Banias & N. Moussiopoulos, 2022. "Development of a Methodological Framework for the Evaluation of the Material and Energy Recovery Potential of Municipal Solid Waste Management: Implementation in Five Greek Regions," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 313-326, March.
    2. Năstase Luiza Loredana, 2023. "Circularity and Municipal Waste in Romania An Evaluation between 2011 and 2021," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 17(1), pages 1509-1518, July.
    3. Yousif Mohammed Elmosaad & Ahmed M. Al Rajeh & Maria Blesilda B. Llaguno & Sami Saad Alqaimi & Ali Mohammed Alsalman & Ali Yousif Alkishi & Hassan Hussain & Mohammed Ahmed Alhoudaib & Othman Saad Alna, 2023. "Self-Reported Household Waste Recycling and Segregation Practices among Families in Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-16, January.
    4. Elżbieta Antczak, 2020. "Regionally Divergent Patterns in Factors Affecting Municipal Waste Production: The Polish Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-25, August.
    5. Janina Kotlinska & Helena Zukowska & Marian Zukowski, 2023. "Management of Municipal Solid Waste in Poland:Issues of Balancing Financial Flows," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3), pages 657-679.
    6. Nor Isnaeni Dwi Arista & Dwini Handayani & Ninin Ernawati, 2023. "Is It Possible to Implement the Same Circular-Economy Concept in Rural and Urban Areas? Study on Willingness to Pay for Household Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Phil Hubbard, 2025. "Small is beautiful? Making sense of ‘shrinking’ homes," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 62(1), pages 187-203, January.
    8. Andreea Simona Saseanu & Rodica-Manuela Gogonea & Simona Ioana Ghita & Radu Şerban Zaharia, 2019. "The Impact of Education and Residential Environment on Long-Term Waste Management Behavior in the Context of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-17, July.
    9. Emmanuel Ebo Arthur & Solomon Gyamfi & Wolfgang Gerstlberger & Jan Stejskal & Viktor Prokop, 2023. "Towards Circular Economy: Unveiling Heterogeneous Effects of Government Policy Stringency, Environmentally Related Innovation, and Human Capital within OECD Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    10. Fabio De Matteis & Alessandra Tafuro & Fabrizio Striani & Daniela Preite, 2023. "Totally Publicly-Owned (TPO) Utilities and Financial Performance: What is the role of some aspects of governance?," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(3), pages 89-111.
    11. Marzena Smol, 2023. "Inventory and Comparison of Performance Indicators in Circular Economy Roadmaps of the European Countries," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 557-584, March.
    12. Danjie Shen & Shujing Dong, 2022. "Transition of Urban Morphology in the Mountainous Areas Since Early-Modern Times from the Perspective of Urban Historic Landscape—A GIS Tools and Historical Map Translation Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-21, October.
    13. Daniela D’Alessandro & Andrea Rebecchi & Letizia Appolloni & Andrea Brambilla & Silvio Brusaferro & Maddalena Buffoli & Maurizio Carta & Alessandra Casuccio & Liliana Coppola & Maria Vittoria Corazza , 2023. "Re-Thinking the Environment, Cities, and Living Spaces for Public Health Purposes, According with the COVID-19 Lesson: The LVII Erice Charter," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, September.
    14. Alessandro De Matteis & Fethiye Burcu Turkmen Ceylan & Mona Daoud & Anne Kahuthu, 2022. "A systemic approach to tackling ocean plastic debris," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 136-145, March.
    15. Shahin Ghaziani & Delaram Ghodsi & Gholamreza Dehbozorgi & Shiva Faghih & Yeganeh Rajabpour Ranjbar & Reiner Doluschitz, 2021. "Comparing Lab-Measured and Surveyed Bread Waste Data: A Possible Hybrid Approach to Correct the Underestimation of Household Food Waste Self-Assessment Surveys," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.
    16. Abderahman Rejeb & Karim Rejeb & Suhaiza Zailani & Yasanur Kayikci & John G. Keogh, 2023. "Examining Knowledge Diffusion in the Circular Economy Domain: a Main Path Analysis," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 125-166, March.
    17. Elena C. Prenovitz & Peter K. Hazlett & Chandler S. Reilly, 2023. "Can Markets Improve Recycling Performance? A Cross-Country Regression Analysis and Case Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    18. Mariana Januário & Ricardo Gomes & Patrícia Baptista & Paulo Ferrão, 2024. "Integrated Energy and Environmental Modeling to Design Cost-Effective Building Solutions at a Regional Level," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-33, November.
    19. Antonio Gattuso & Alessandra De Bruno & Amalia Piscopo & Simone Santacaterina & Maria Josè Frutos & Marco Poiana, 2024. "Bergamot Pomace Flour: From Byproduct to Bioactive Ingredient for Pasta Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-13, September.
    20. Ksenia Juszczak-Szelągowska & Iwona Kowalczuk & Dawid Olewnicki & Małgorzata Kosicka-Gębska & Dagmara Stangierska-Mazurkiewicz, 2025. "Processing Fruits and Vegetables as a Way to Prevent Their Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-18, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:19:p:8542-:d:1756490. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.