LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE AND THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN ALGERIA: ASSESSING THE LEGAL–INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK THROUGH AGRI-FOOD BY-PRODUCT VALORIZATION

Povzetek

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Algeria’s legal and institutional framework for local environmental governance in advancing the circular economy, using agri-food by-product valorization as a practical entry point. Although Algeria has expanded its regulatory instruments to structure waste management and promote resource recovery, field evidence from multiple agri-food sectors demonstrates that the translation of these regulatory ambitions into effective local practice remains limited. The analysis reveals that organic and liquid by-product flows are still poorly recovered, with only a few segments—such as packaging and sugar-processing co-products—showing meaningful progress toward circularity. A comparative perspective involving Maghreb, African, and European experiences indicates that Algeria’s challenges are primarily structural rather than regulatory, stemming from insufficient infrastructure, weak economic incentives, and fragmented institutional coordination at the local level. The study concludes that strengthening local governance mechanisms, improving inter-institutional cooperation, and aligning legal frameworks with local implementation capacities are essential for transforming Algeria’s circular economy potential in the agri-food sector into tangible environmental outcomes.

The transition to a circular economy is a strategic imperative for the agri-food industry. In Algeria, despite an expanding regulatory framework aimed at structuring waste management and the recovery of by-products, the effectiveness of practices remains limited. This study combines an in-depth analysis of the legislation adopted with a field survey covering several agri-food sectors in order to assess the real place of circularity in companies.