Monitor circulair Valkenburg: Naar een bestuurlijk bruikbaar meetinstrument voor circulariteit in gemeente Valkenburg aan de Geul

Abstract

This report presents the results of a study commissioned by the municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul to develop a practical tool for measuring progress toward its circular economy objectives. Other than measuring progress, one of the municipality's objectives was to benchmark where they stand with other municipalities. The results of the tool were also intended to inform further policy development in the field of the circular economy.
Research was conducted to identify suitable existing monitors for this purpose. This resulted in four potentially suitable monitors that were used by municipalities in Europe. In addition, research was conducted to determine which circular economy indicators would best meet the municipality's needs. This resulted in a categorized set of 38 circular economy indicators. The third sub-study examined the municipality's opportunities to influence the realization of its circular economy ambitions. This involved examining the municipality's characteristics and responsibilities. The results of these three sub-studies were combined into a monitor based on the Doughnut Portrait, which includes 15 of the 38 circular economy indicators identified. These 15 indicators were selected based on a separate assessment of two dimensions: (1) their methodological quality and measurement value for circularity, and (2) their relevance for the municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul, viewed from both municipal responsibilities and the specific local context. The usability of the outcomes of these indicators, the output data, is related to the quality of the input data used, which is why this was also investigated. This research examined which factors could play a role in determining this data quality. This resulted in a set of ten quality factors against which this output data can be assessed. To prioritize policy measures in the field of the circular economy, research was conducted into possible policy prioritization models. This research yielded three possible models. A combination of models appears to be a good solution for the municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul: first, a selection of policy measures based on the R-hierarchy related to the outcome of the monitor, the percentage of circularity, to be followed by a prioritization based on the multi-criteria decision-making model.

Date of Award	12 Feb 2026
Original language	Dutch
Supervisor	Lisanne Groen (Supervisor), Chloé Taillandier (Co-assessor), Saskia Hermens (Co-assessor) & Angelique Lansu (Examiner)