Integrating Waste Legislation and Circular Economy Strategies in Climate Policy: International Lessons and Georgia's Experience

The transition toward a circular economy (CE) has gained momentum worldwide, supported by regulatory reforms, economic incentives, and technological innovations. Yet progress remains uneven, particularly in transition and developing economies where enforcement, infrastructure, and public engagement are limited. This review synthesizes international literature and compares selected jurisdictions using a structured set of parameters: (i) national CE policies and regulatory frameworks, (ii) Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and economic instruments, (iii) recycling and separate collection systems, (iv) integration with greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets, (v) enforcement capacity, and (vi) public participation. The analysis shows that advanced economies such as Austria, South Korea, and Japan achieve higher recycling rates and measurable climate benefits through integrated policy mixes that combine legislation, financial incentives, and citizen engagement. In contrast, fragmented approaches in the United States, Canada, and Australia deliver uneven results, while transition economies— including Georgia—remain at early stages of CE implementation. Georgia has introduced the Waste Management Code (2014), Vision 2030, and a National Waste Management Strategy, but continues to face barriers of weak enforcement, limited infrastructure, and low circularity (≈ 1.3%). The review highlights that Georgia' s progress will depend on embedding existing legislation into a coherent policy mix, investing in infrastructure and enforcement, strengthening public-private partnerships, and aligning CE more closely with climate objectives. These findings provide insights for policymakers in Georgia and other middle-income countries on how international best practices can guide effective CE transitions and contribute to climate change mitigation.