Have you been hearing about circular economy, but don’t know where to start reading about it? At be Waste Wise, we have been talking about circular economy since 2014 in our #wastedialog. So, here is a quick guide to help you understand more about circular economy.

• Start with these two simple Q&A sessions with the father of waste hierarchy, Ad Lansink, who speaks about the current status of managing materials and waste, prevention and where the focus is and about the Circular Economy and Zero Waste.
• Read this short essay on how improving waste management can improve wellbeing and lead to a circular economy. Continue to understand how localized waste processing and recycling in high-tech microfactories is an essential first step to the circular economy.
• Concepts of zero waste and zero landfill are similar to circular economy. Continue learning about them through this discussion on Zero Waste Vs. Zero Landfill.
• Reuse and repair are important aspects of moving towards a circular economy. Start learning about this with this panel on Design for Reuse and Repair. Continue exploring the topic of reuse with this panel that discusses if Reuse is the New Recycling. How do we take the next step and normalise individual decision making to look for these items before considering something new? This webinar on Normalising Reuse and Repair gives an answer to that question. 
• Reuse and repair is one part of the discussion, but Design and Consumption for the Circular Economy is a larger conversation which explores what could be done from the design, business, consumption, and policy perspectives to hasten the implementation of the circular economy.
• Emma Burlow publishes a #CE100 series throwing light on 100 businesses supporting a circular economy. Her webinars invites a few of them to discuss their business model. Start with question Are Circular Business Models Mainstream. Continue to understand Circular Economy Business Models in Practice. Watch the next panel where Emma breaks down Circular Economy Mentoring and access to support and networks. Finish with learning about the critical role of circular economy in carbon reduction. 
• A sharing economy is absolutely required for our planet to move to a circular economy. Read this essay about the 5 Lessons My Students Taught Me About The Sharing Economy.
• Waste prevention is also important first step in moving towards circular economies, so watch this panel on the Future of Waste Prevention and the Sharing Economy.
• Food waste is also an equally important part in a circular economy. Watch this webinar that discusses Circular Food – the benefits, risks, practical applications and challenges of turning surplus food into animal feed.
• Now that we know why a Circular Economy is a necessity, how can we get there? Read this article Unite & Ignite – Path to a Circular Economy or watch the panel on which the article is based on — Igniting Circular Economy into Action.
• After we understand the steps to move towards a circular economy, watch this panel that discusses the skills, competencies and training required for a circular economy.
• Circular Economy is a concept that is being discussed mainly in developed economies. A circular economy is possible only when it is global. So, watch Making Circular Economy Truly Global.
• Continue learning about circular economy in developing countries with this two-day online conference organized by ISWA-YPG titled “The Ultimate Journey from Dump Sites to a Circular Economy“. Participants in the conference discuss best practices & innovative solutions for low- and middle-income countries.

Is there a specific area of circular economy that you want us to host a panel discussion on? Or, is there any other other panel or article (external to this website) that you think should be linked as part of this guide, do let us know in the comments.

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Want to learn about the Circular Economy? This resource from @bewastewise is a good start.

Here is a beginner’s guide on Circular Economy from @bewastewise