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The municipality of Utrecht has shared plans and ambitions for a fully circular economy by 2050. On the physical level, the cathedral city mainly wants to regulate more on demolition and permitting. The municipality also wants to ban the burning of residual waste. The concrete measures will follow next year.
The vision distinguishes four sectors where the municipality sees circular opportunities: business and entrepreneurship, area development and construction, commissioning and purchasing and circular material and residual flows.
The municipality wants to impose circular conditions when issuing land for area and building developments. These projects must then be subject to circular quality requirements through special performance agreements that the municipality sets up.
Utrecht also wants to prevent unnecessary demolition. The municipality wants to exert influence through spatial planning and licensing. ‘By regulating demolition more strictly in the future environmental plan, the municipality can prevent buildings from being demolished unnecessarily.’ The vision also mentions a ban on incineration of residual waste in 2040. The municipality wants to be waste-free by 2050.
Testable frameworks should then make it easier for circular companies to obtain permits for circular (construction) projects. ‘In this way, circular construction will have a clear procedure for permit applications.’
Timber construction and maintenance in post-war neighborhoods
According to the vision, Utrecht seems to encourage wood use, as long as there are commercial parties that can supply this. Woodwork 1 and 2 were one of the first examples of Utrecht timber buildings. Smaller scale wood will work with it City wood network are processed into new products as much as possible.
The municipality also sees opportunities in replacing and maintaining post-war neighborhoods. Redesigning only takes place where this is really necessary. ‘The large amount of raw material flows that are released (asphalt, concrete, benches or playground equipment) are easily reusable. It is important for these projects to establish a raw materials depot.
For the entire construction sector, the municipality follows the trends and resources that the government also directs: construction will undergo significant digitization. Material passports will provide insight into the use of materials, and the MPG will indicate the environmental impact of the materials used in a building.
Tax on raw materials
The vision also mentions the idea of taxing raw materials instead of labor. That idea was previously praised by the independent think tank The Ex’tax Project ‘Taxes Delta Plan for a circular and social economy’.
According to the think tank, the current tax system hinders circular development, because the consumption of raw materials and pollution is low or not taxed, while labor and entrepreneurship are.
The municipality also wants targeted investments in circular companies, including: Regional Development Company Region Utrecht (ROM).
Upcycle centers
For residents and neighborhoods, the vision outlines a central role for community centers, repair cafés and maker spaces. Tools, cars and other belongings are shared when necessary.
The municipality wants to realize ‘upcycle centers’ along the access routes to the Utrecht waste separation stations at Tractieweg and Lunetten. These stations give discarded objects a new purpose.
Concrete goals will follow in 2024
Parties can respond until November 19, 2023 the vision, which was presented by councilor Susanne Schilderman.
Next year, Utrecht wants to convert its ambitions into concrete measurable goals, laid down in the Utrecht Circular 2030 Policy Memorandum. By 2030, the municipality wants to use 50 percent less primary abiotic raw materials. This is in line with the national ambition.
Currently, approximately 3.8 megatons of raw materials enter the city every year, and approximately 1.3 megatons of export products and 1.0 megatons of ‘waste’ leave the city.