Dr Nick Morgan, Associate Director at Miller Research, and Lead Consultant Megan Byrne dive into the fascinating findings from the Circular Communities Project in Wales as part of this innovative case study.
As part of our effort to understand how communities can transition to a circular economy, we embarked on the Circular Communities Project in Wales.
This pilot, funded by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and delivered in partnership with Data Cymru, aimed to answer a critical question: Can we use existing data alongside primary data collection to develop an indicator framework for a holistic assessment of a community’s circularity?
Over the course of the project, we worked with three communities at the Lower layer Super Output Areas (LSOA) level – Maindee in Newport, Penygroes in Gwynedd, and Cwmaman in Carmarthenshire – to explore their circularity progress within a broader socio-economic context.
Understanding circularity at the community level
The concept of a circular economy emphasises the reduction of waste, the continual use of resources, and the regeneration of natural systems.
While national and global efforts are crucial, this project was driven by an interest in the efforts that are needed on a community level to tackle global environmental issues. We believe that communities will play a pivotal role in this transition.
However, there is a lack of information on a local level that can be used to assess and benchmark a community’s current circularity.
Policy and decision-makers, as well as communities themselves, would benefit from reliable information on their own communities that can be used to tailor strategies to specific needs and behaviours, ensuring more effective and sustainable outcomes.
A significant driver for this project has been an interest in understanding circular behaviours at a community level.
This has included behaviours around a wide range of circular factors, including repair, reuse and recycling, use of public transport and active travel options, and food purchases, alongside broader socio-economic factors, such as democratic and community participation.
Our approach
In this pilot, we used both secondary and primary data collection methods to evaluate the circularity of the exemplar communities.
In developing our indicator framework, we started with an ideal list of indicators that we wanted to measure, and then worked backwards to identify what data sources could inform them.
Inevitably, the availability of data shaped the final range of metrics included, but also focused on what the communities themselves wanted to achieve.
The final framework consisted of seven interconnected themes, building on traditional waste-focused definitions of circular activities.
The data-sourcing exercise collated together all available data, which showed where gaps existed due to either a complete lack of data or a lack of data at a suitably local level (for example, local area statistics such as Wards or Lower Super Output Areas).
While most data is measured at the small area level, certain levers were considered important by local practitioners (e.g. the impact of second-home ownership) despite sometimes being outside of the community’s control.
The goal was to keep sight of broader objectives while recognising the practical constraints communities may face.
We then carried out our own primary data collection in the three communities. This included surveys, interviews, and workshops to gather insights on factors such as waste management, resource use, and community behaviours.
Our findings
One of our key findings was that community engagement and awareness are vital to promoting circular behaviours.
In Maindee, for instance, we observed a high level of community involvement in local recycling initiatives, which correlated with lower waste generation and higher recycling rates.
Conversely, in Cwmaman, economic challenges and lack of infrastructure posed significant barriers to adopting circular practices, despite a strong community interest in sustainability.
Key insights from the research across the three communities included:
Circular nuances: One of the key findings is that the idea of a circular economy takes on varied meanings in different towns and communities. A key example that came through was the unique link between circular economy and language in rural areas (exemplified in Penygroes). Recognising those nuances is crucial for tailoring effective support and guiding communities on their transition.
Defining communities: Precise data interpretation hinges on clearly defined geographical boundaries, which is difficult when you’re working in a community setting in which boundaries often aren’t the same to any two people. The project has required us to take quite a pragmatic approach to understand community dynamics in diverse contexts.
Local Authority Change: Another key insight is that some of the greatest opportunities in fostering circularity locally often require significant structural changes at the Local Authority level. This was evident in areas like transport, as well as climate resilience and support for housing decarbonisation. Levers for change may lie beyond community control but are needed to help communities manage the transition and become more resilient.
Through our research, we were able to draw together findings specific to each community.
Maindee, Newport
Maindee, an urban community in Newport, demonstrated significant progress in several aspects of circularity.
The presence of numerous social enterprises and active community groups facilitated initiatives such as repair cafes and tool libraries, which enhanced community engagement.
Our findings showed that Maindee had a robust network for recycling and reuse, supported by local policies and community efforts.
Penygroes, Gwynedd
Penygroes, a predominantly Welsh-speaking rural village, presented a different set of challenges and opportunities.
The community’s circularity was bolstered by strong local networks and a high level of local participation in social enterprises and community-led initiatives.
However, the area faces challenges, to some extent a consequence of its rural context, including limited access to facilities services, which impacted the community’s ability to fully engage in circular practices.
Despite these challenges, Penygroes exhibited a strong commitment to sustainability through local projects like community gardens and food sharing schemes.
Cwmaman, Carmarthenshire
Cwmaman, a rural community with a history of coal mining, showed a mix of strengths and areas for improvement.
The community had several active circular initiatives, including a makerspace and tree-planting activities.
However, economic challenges and limited infrastructure posed significant barriers to wider adoption of circular practices.
Challenges and opportunities
The pilot project highlighted several challenges for local-level data collection. Data availability and quality varied significantly across the communities, making it difficult to create a uniform assessment framework.
Additionally, the level of engagement from communities varied, which impacted the comprehensiveness of the data collected. These challenges underscore the need for tailored approaches that consider the unique circumstances of each community.
Furthermore, the pilot demonstrated the need for stronger data collection mechanisms at a local level, to assess circular practices and values at a community level to better inform decision-making.
However, the project produced three comprehensive reports and accompanying indicator assessments.
The qualitative and quantitative data has been weaved together to create a fuller assessment of communities than would be possible with only quantitative data, with the scoring in the indicator framework given broader context informed by qualitative data.
Next steps: Empowering communities for circular action
Looking ahead, we envision two key developments for the Circular Communities Project.
First, we aim to create an easy-to-use pack that communities can use to conduct their own assessments. This tool will provide guidance on data collection and analysis, empowering communities to take charge of their circular transitions.
Second, a long-term aspiration is to develop a website that allows people across Wales to explore their communities’ circularity and contribute their own data through a short survey.
This platform will focus on circular behaviours, enablers, and barriers, providing valuable insights for policymakers.
Ultimately, this data collection exercise would look to explore areas where values and actions are out of alignment, signalling an appetite for change, held back by practical barriers.
By identifying communities with high potential for circular interventions and those facing significant barriers, decision-makers can better target efforts and resources to improve a community’s circularity.
Conclusion
The Circular Communities Project has provided valuable insights into how we can assess and promote circularity at the community level in Wales.
While challenges remain, the enthusiastic participation and innovative ideas generated through this pilot give us hope for the future.
By empowering communities with the tools and knowledge that they need, we can foster a more sustainable and resilient Wales.
The next steps for this project will build on our findings, helping to create a robust framework for community-led circular transitions.
As we continue this journey, we invite policymakers, businesses, and individuals to join us in exploring the potential of circular communities.
Together, we can create a more sustainable future, one community at a time.
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