Innovative roadmap for household organic waste management in the European Union: Pathways to a circular economy

Biowaste accounts for approximately 34 % of municipal waste. Expanding its separate collection is crucial to achieving the 65 % recycling target set by the European Union for 2035, as it improves the quality and recovery potential of waste within a circular economy. This article proposes a new roadmap to support Member States in implementing more efficient systems for managing household organic waste. The roadmap presents phased actions across strategic, operational, and communication levels, proposing best practices to be implemented by the Member States to increase circularity. The roadmap, guides policymakers and professionals on the particularities of household organic waste management, often overlooked in more general analyses. To develop this roadmap a case study methodology, using content analysis to examine 49 national reports on household organic waste systems was employed to describe the 27 countries EU countries. Correlation analysis and benchmarking methodologies were applied to propose recommendation. As result of the analysis, it is possible to verify that some countries have introduced effective measures, such as pay-as-you-throw schemes, mandatory separation at source, and regular public awareness communication campaigns. However, findings reveal that many still face significant challenges, particularly in aligning policy frameworks, infrastructure development, and public engagement. In conclusion, although various Member States have taken encouraging steps, the European Union still has a considerable path ahead to ensure that household organic waste is managed consistently with the principles of the circular economy. This roadmap provides concrete and operational guidance, based on best practices from European Union countries, to support this transition process.