Circular Economy in Waste Management Research: Global Trends, Knowledge Structures, and Future Directions

Abstract

This study maps the global research landscape at the circular economy–waste management (CE–WM) nexus and identifies priority avenues to accelerate circularity. Using a PRISMA-informed protocol on Scopus, we assembled 1,880 records (2020–2025) and applied a multi-method bibliometric workflow: performance indicators (document type, years of publications, languages, source title & countries). Data were cleaned and standardized with transparent thesauri and disambiguation procedures; networks employed fractional counting, association-strength normalization, and modularity-based clustering. Results show a pronounced post-2020 surge peaking in 2024 and a venue structure concentrated in applied sustainability outlets, led by the Journal of Cleaner Production. Collaboration is organized around Asia–Europe hubs, with India and China among the most prolific contributors alongside the United Kingdom and Italy. Science mapping reveals an intellectual core centered on sustainable development, waste management, recycling, and life-cycle assessment, encircled by four research fronts: (i) biological and process pathways (e.g., anaerobic digestion, biogas), (ii) thermochemical and construction-materials valorization (e.g., geopolymers, secondary aggregates, plastics), (iii) management, policy, and circular supply chains (e.g., e-waste governance, extended producer responsibility), and (iv) digital and urban “smart circularity” (IoT, data infrastructures, smart cities). The study concludes that CE–WM research is rapidly consolidating toward integrated, data-enabled, and policy-aligned systems. Limitations include single-index coverage and citation-window effects. It is recommended to triangulate databases and deploy time-sliced, field-normalized maps linked to causal policy evaluation and techno-economic/LCA assessments to advance evidence-based circularity.