Living labs supporting circular cities in Morocco: Towards collaborative waste management in Casablanca

Abstract

This article examines the role of Living Labs in advancing a circular economy approach to waste management in Casablanca. Amid rapid urbanization, intensifies pressure on waste management infrastructure. Living Labs emerge as promising tools to foster collaboration among citizens, local authorities, private operators, and associations. The study reveals that, while economic imperatives primarily drive waste management practices, Living Labs provides a participatory innovation framework that enhances citizen engagement and adapts waste management solutions to local specificities. However, the lack of adequate infrastructure for waste sorting and the challenge of coordinating initiatives hinder the full transition to circular cities. By integrating co-creation and local resource mobilization, this article concludes that Living Labs can contribute to Casablanca's sustainability goals while recommending stronger public policy support to maximize its effectiveness. The methodology used in this study combines secondary data, field observations, and semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders. This approach allows the exploration of collaborative waste management practices and the potential integration of circular city concepts within Casablanca’s context.