Manresa, Spain
Manresa seeks to encourage the transition from a linear to a circular economy while also enhancing the competitiveness of its territory and local industry. Its overarching ambition is to become a green, just and productive city, in line with the principles outlined in the New Leipzig Charter; an ambition that inherently involves embracing the circular city model. To achieve this purpose, Manresa focuses on building multilevel alliances and raising awareness among stakeholders and citizens about the need and benefits of the transition towards a more sustainable economic model. This model is based on circular economy and resource-efficiency as one of its main pillars, in combination with clean and efficient energy, urban renaturalisation, nature-based solutions, sustainable mobility, decent jobs, and responsible production and consumption. By signing the CCD, the city confirms its commitment to the circular transition by strengthening local and external alliances, deepening into the concept of circular city and exchanging experiences and best practices with other cities and organisations.
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Manresa Symbiosis & the industrial energy community
Manresa Symbiosis, a lighthouse action towards the transition to a local circular economy, was launched in 2016 to implement the first industrial symbiosis project in the city. The project aims to optimise the use of available resources by fostering conditions that promote synergies among different companies, setting the foundation for a transition towards a circular economy.
One of the main results of the project is Manresa Il·lumina Business Energy Community. Led by the Bufalvent Business Association, this community brings together companies from the industrial area to establish a cooperative and sustainable energy model. The initiative promotes open and voluntary participation and democratic control, ensuring that economic, social and environmental benefits are reinvested locally. By generating and consuming clean solar energy produced on their own rooftops, participating companies work collectively to reduce dependence on external networks. This initiative has been chosen as a finalist for the Innovation in Politics Awards 2025.
Circular connections
Manresa also works with several business-focused projects to bring its circular aims to its citizens. The city's main asset is the collaboration with local stakeholders, universities and research teams, as Eurecat (technology centre). Furthermore, Manresa is a member of the Executive Council of Eurotowns, a medium-sized European city network committed to the promotion of the circular economy at the local level.
Thus, the city has taken part in the Global Goals for Cities URBACT network, a collaboration of 19 European cities focused on implementing the SDGs and developing strategies for local sustainability. This includes advancing the circular economy and improving waste prevention and management, particularly in line with SDGs 9, 11 and 12.
Currently, Manresa is also participating in the Horizon project Smile City: Sustainable Materials for Innovative and Low-Emission Applications in the Circular City. The project involves installing e-bike stations made from recycled concrete and photovoltaic panels, along with other mobility infrastructure, such as bollards, lane dividers and rubberised asphalt, manufactured from recycled rubber.
Manresa is also a pioneer in innovative waste management. As the first large city in Catalonia to implement smart containers in the whole municipality, they’ve increased selective collection from 27% to 75% in certain neighbourhoods. These smart containers can only be accessed using a citizen-distributed card, and the waste container is only opened one day a week, in line with Waste Zero Europe’s strategy. This bold approach underscores Manresa’s commitment to circularity and positions the city as a leading example in responsible resource management.