Prague: The circular European capital you haven’t heard about yet

Prague has integrated circular economy principles into its city planning and climate mitigation strategies, guided by a 2019 'Circle Scan' conducted by Circle Economy, NGO INCIEN, and the City of Prague. This analysis of material flows and GHG emissions allowed the city to move beyond small-scale interventions to address larger waste streams, specifically bulky waste, food waste, and agricultural land management. Key initiatives include the establishment of Re-Use Points for furniture and appliances, a pilot for household food waste collection to produce biogas for waste management trucks, and a circular procurement strategy requiring organic farming practices on city-owned agricultural land.

• The 'Circle Scan' analysis enabled Prague to prioritize high-impact material flows over minor issues, focusing on biomass loops and construction and demolition waste rather than just plastic straws.
• Prague identified that nearly 10% of the 307,000 tonnes of non-food products consumed annually by households is bulky waste destined for landfill, with a potential for 70% of this to be reused.
• To address food waste, Prague aims to increase municipal waste separation at the source from 31% to 70% by 2035. A pilot for household food waste collection in three districts intends to expand city-wide by 2026, converting waste into biogas for trucks that release 58% fewer pollutants than diesel versions.
• The city manages 1,650 hectares of agricultural land, with 500 hectares currently leased to farmers under a circular procurement strategy that mandates organic principles, including the prohibition of pesticides and fungicides and the use of organic fertilisers.
• The city's transition was supported by the 'Circle Scan' and the establishment of a dedicated committee and steering group, which embedded circular economy considerations into daily decision-making.

APA

Haigh, L. A. (2021). Prague: The circular European capital you haven’t heard about yet. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/circular-economy/prague-the-circular-european-capital-you-havent-heard-about-yet/

Chicago

Haigh, Laxmi Adrianna. Prague: The circular European capital you haven’t heard about yet. World Economic Forum, 2021. https://www.weforum.org/stories/circular-economy/prague-the-circular-european-capital-you-havent-heard-about-yet/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Haigh |first1=Laxmi Adrianna |title=Prague: The circular European capital you haven’t heard about yet |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=27 July 2021 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/circular-economy/prague-the-circular-european-capital-you-havent-heard-about-yet/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{haigh2021prague, author = {Haigh, Laxmi Adrianna}, title = {{Prague: The circular European capital you haven’t heard about yet}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/circular-economy/prague-the-circular-european-capital-you-havent-heard-about-yet/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }