The current linear economic model “take, consume, discard” relies on large quantities of cheap, easily accessible materials and energy, and is a model that achieves its physical limitations. The circular economy is an attractive and viable alternative for the Municipality of Maribor (MOM), which aimed at creating a cooperative economy based on circularity concepts.

In 2018, the municipality of Maribor (MOM) has published the Strategy for the transition of the City of Maribor to the circular economy, its own innovative model as a system for managing all the resources available in the Municipality of Maribor and the wider urban area. The model is based on the operation of enterprises that are predominantly publicly owned, which already provide public services for residents, and thus are the city’s bottlenecks that until now have not functioned as a connecting link, which is a fundamental principle in the transition from linear to circular economy. The basic design of the model for the transition of MOM into circular economy is based on the design and implementation of the Wcycle project as a new business and economic model for the efficient management of resources. MOM, through the design and implementation of the Wcycle project, will effectively manage the following identified sources of energy: waste, excess heat, wastewater, unused space and improvement of social environment. The model is based on the operation of enterprises that are predominantly publicly-owned and already provide public services for residents, and are thus the city’s bottlenecks that until now have not functioned as a connecting link.

Strategic project areas in the strategy are:

1. Treatment of municipal waste and associated services

2. Use of processed construction and demolition waste and soil in urban construction

3. Managing surplus heat and renewable energy

4. Sustainable mobility - Urban transport and joint service

5. Reuse of recycled water and alternative water resources

6. Sustainable management of land and regeneration of degraded areas

7. Cooperating economy network

The strategy is closely linked to the consortium of nine EU Alpine city partners (Maribor is the leading partner) to achieve the goals of a low-carbon society through the introduction of an integrated circular economy system for the management of urban areas. Oa circular economy system for partner cities, building on available practices and existing low -carbon strategies. Furthermore, the project partners will provide implementation strategies and establish cross -sectoral cooperation and governance. Also, a toolbox for circular economy deployment and a transnational circular economy marketplace – cooperation platform will be established.

The project objectives for planning and implementing the Wcycle project are:

> Reducing the environmental burden

> Reducing the use of natural resources

> Increasing the use of renewable sources, energy and water

> Quality use of land

> Development of cooperative economy

> Creating new, predominantly green jobs

> Creating added value and economic growth

> Use of new technologies, own research and development

The positive consequences of these practices are the emergence of new business opportunities for the Municipality of Maribor, the people and the economy, the creation of high-quality, predominantly green jobs, new added value and a new economic boost. The strategy is a long-term project that provides development-oriented efficient management of resource flows in local and regional environments.