Circular economy in the Chuvash Republic

This article analyses the development of a circular economy in the Chuvash Republic, a region ranked among the top five in the national circular transformation rankings of Russian Federation constituent entities. The paper examines key factors for the region’s success, including the creation of a modern municipal solid waste (MSW) management infrastructure, the activities of the regional operator, and the development of a system of state support for circular projects. Based on the data on actual waste processing volumes and the performance of specialised enterprises, the economic efficiency of circular projects has been calculated. The Novocheboksarsk Branch of AO “Sitimatik” processes over 75 % of the MSW generated in the republic, sorting waste into over 20 types of recyclable materials for further advanced recycling. The success of the Chuvash Republic thanks to a comprehensive approach: the creation of concession facilities with modern equipment, the implementation of automated waste monitoring and accounting systems, and the efficient coordination at the regional government level. Based on the analysis, recommendations are formulated for other regions seeking to improve their circularity.