Research Article // Landfills as integrated water-energy-food-ecosystems Nexus hubs: A prospective vision for circular economy implementation
By Oliva et al. This study reconceptualizes landfills as integrated WEFE nexus hubs enables the transformation of waste management systems into multifunctional platforms that enhance resource recovery, promote circular economy principles, and generate synergistic environmental, economic, and social benefits.
Summary
The WEFE Nexus framework has emerged as a holistic approach for addressing interconnected resource challenges, emphasizing the interdependencies among sectors and the need for integrated solutions. Recent research highlights the potential of incorporating waste management within the WEFE framework to enhance circular economy outcomes and improve resource efficiency. In this context, landfills, traditionally viewed as passive waste repositories, are increasingly being reconceptualized as active resource hubs capable of generating multiple WEFE-related outputs. While enabling technologies such as landfill gas upgrading, advanced leachate treatment, renewable energy generation, and biomonitoring have been demonstrated individually, their integrated application within a WEFE-oriented framework remains limited. This editorial explores how such integration can unlock synergies, reduce cross-sectoral inefficiencies, and transform landfills into platforms for sustainable resource recovery and innovation. By synthesizing existing evidence and practical experiences, the study underscores the potential of WEFE-based strategies to redefine the role of landfills within the circular economy.
Published
31 December 2025