Waste Valorization and Urban Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Transition and Resilient Environments

Dear Colleagues,

Managing waste is one of the most pressing challenges faced by both urban and rural areas in developed and developing nations. This issue is particularly critical as we strive to build sustainable cities and transition to a circular urban economy. Global environmental policies are driving transformative approaches to waste management strategies, with initiatives across continents focusing on the valorization of natural resources, enhancing urban metabolism, and promoting sustainable circular economy principles that transcend regional boundaries and address worldwide environmental challenges.  

Emerging approaches such as waste valorization, upcycling, and resource recovery are vital components of this shift. In many developed countries, innovative methods are being implemented to manage municipal, industrial, construction and demolition, mining, and agricultural waste. These methods aim to produce renewable energy, high-quality compost, and other valuable outputs, strengthening the circular flow of materials within urban systems, thus reducing the use of natural resources. Advanced treatment technologies are also being developed to recover essential elements like phosphorus, nitrogen, and metals from solid waste. These recovered materials can be transformed into green-based products, supporting food production and various industrial processes, while aligning with the principles of a circular urban economy. However, the successful implementation of these solutions requires comprehensive risk assessment to evaluate potential environmental, economic, and social impacts. 

Sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient solutions for waste management are indispensable for fostering resource recovery, optimizing urban metabolism, and ensuring cities thrive in harmony with environmental limits. By addressing these challenges, we can advance toward resilient and sustainable urban ecosystems that support a more circular future.

In this Special Issue, authors are invited to submit their papers covering high-quality and novel research as well as review studies that address, but are not limited to, (i) technological innovations in waste management, (ii) waste valorization and byproduct introduction in the value chain, (iii) circular economy governance models, (iv) urban metabolism redesign, (v) resilience and adaptation strategies, (vi) socio-technical system transformation, (vii) citizen enhancement in waste management models, and (viii) risk assessment in waste management and circular economy applications. This Special Issue aims to catalyze transformative research and practical innovations in urban waste management and circular economy development.

Dr. Verónica Oliveira
Dr. Luis Araújo Santos
Dr. Carla Rodrigues
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Urban Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• waste valorization
• sustainable cities
• circular urban economy
• resource recovery
• environmental governance
• urban metabolism
• citizen participation
• risk assessment