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The OECD Environmental Performance Review Programme has been supporting member and partner countries in developing effective environmental policies for nearly 30 years. The principal aim of the programme is to:

• support countries evaluate progress in achieving their environmental goals;

• promote continuous policy dialogue and peer learning; and

• stimulate greater accountability from governments towards each other and public opinion.

The thematic reports developed under the Environmental Performance Review Programme contribute to these objectives by summarising experience and lessons learned from country specific Environmental Performance Reviews.

This report provides a cross-country overview of waste, materials management and circular economy policies in selected OECD countries and Colombia, drawing on OECD’s Environmental Performance Reviews during the period 2010-17. It presents the main achievements in the countries reviewed, along with common trends and policy challenges and provides insights into the effectiveness and efficiency of waste, materials management and circular economy policy frameworks. As the reviews were published over seven years, information on policies for some countries may be more recent than others and some information may be outdated. Nevertheless, the policy recommendations emerging from the reviews may provide useful lessons for other OECD and partner countries. The chapter on “Trends in materials consumption and waste generation” is based on data available up to April 2018 provided across all OECD countries where available.

The authors of the report are Tony Zamparutti, Alicia McNeill and Sarah O’Brien of Milieu Consulting. Nathalie Cliquot of the Environment Directorate co-ordinated its preparation. Nathalie Girouard, Head of the Environmental Performance and Information Division, OECD Environment Directorate provided oversight and guidance. The report benefited from contribution of Environment Directorate colleagues including Myriam Linster, Frederique Zegel and Peter Börkey. Sarah Miet provided statistical support and Annette Hardcastle and Natasha Cline-Thomas prepared the report for publication.