Sanchita Bansal

University School of Management Studies, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India

bansalsanchita@gmail.com

ORCID 0000-0003-3585-5511

The impact of waste on resource and energy productivity: A circular economy perspective

Nisha Chanaliya

University School of Management Studies, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India

nishachanaliya25@gmail.com

ORCID 0009-0001-7346-571X

Priya Nangia

Amity School of Business, Amity University,

Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

priyanangia2233@gmail.com

ORCID 0000-0003-0541-5291

Dariusz Cichoń

Department of Enterprise Management, AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakow, Poland

dcichon@agh.edu.pl

ORCID 0000-0003-4198-1530

Liliana Smiech

Doctoral School of Regional Sciences and Business Administration, 

Széchenyi Istvàn University, Hungary 

liliana.smiech@gmail.com

ORCID 0009-0004-6223-1047

Abstract. As cities continue to grow, managing the increasing amount of waste has become an important concern. The study intends to assess the effects of waste generation and treatment on total resource productivity, as well as its subset, energy productivity, in European Union (EU) countries. The research employs the Driscoll-Kraay standard errors fixed effect model using panel regression. The findings reveal that waste generation impacts negatively on overall resource productivity and energy productivity. Furthermore, waste treatment also has a negative impact on resource productivity and energy productivity. These results suggest that despite the reduction in waste volumes achieved through treatment, the process may still have a negative relationship with productivity outcomes. The paper explores the underlying reasons for these findings and evaluates the status of waste generation and treatment across EU countries. Implications suggest introducing public-private partnerships to strengthen waste treatment processes, eco-tax solutions, incentives to green organizations, penalties for environmentally harmful practices, and improved data accessibility for informed decision-making. This study evaluates waste treatment techniques in the EU, focusing on the implementation of circular economy principles to promote sustainable development, increase resource productivity, and strengthen waste management frameworks.

Received: May, 2025

1st Revision: February, 2026

Accepted: March, 2026

DOI: 10.14254/2071-8330.2026/19-1/11

JEL Classification: Q01, Q2, Q5, Q20

Keywords: waste, circular economy, resources, energy, productivity