Performance indicators for measuring municipal and national targets: a comprehensive analysis in Waste Management.

The Circular Economy framework sets rules and principles for increasing sustainability by reducing dependence on natural resources. In this aim, Waste Management is crucial as a key operational pillar of the Circular Economy strategies, supporting raw material recovery and the prevention of environmental degradation. To assess progress in this area, a range of performance indicators has been developed and implemented, but gaps remain in their effective selection and application. This paper examines the indicators employed to evaluate waste systems and categorises them using a two-attribute classification-Dimension and Category-to clarify their meaning and practical applications, considering different levels of analysis and geographical contexts. Findings reveal a concentration of studies in Europe, primarily focusing on the municipal level. Supported by both qualitative and quantitative analyses, the results emphasise the importance of integrating environmental, social and economic impacts alongside material flow metrics. They also underscore the need to develop indicator sets that include applicable measures for assessing prevention and reuse schemes. Furthermore, the study suggests that a comprehensive classification could help practitioners select the most suitable set of indicators for their analysis, thereby increasing its robustness and comparability and ensuring better compliance with waste directives and alignment with increasingly rigorous regulatory standards. The study underlines the need for policy actions in addressing geographical gaps in data collection and availability. These gaps limit indicator development and implementation, reducing comparability at different scales and between different contexts, thereby affecting effective policy design to fasten the Circular Economy transition.