Circular Economy in Action: Cities Learning Together in Phoenix

On 22 April 2026, the EU Cities Gateway Program convened cities from Europe, Canada, and the United States in Phoenix for the launch of its Circular Economy Thematic Cluster. The meeting coincided with Earth Day, providing a timely backdrop for discussions on sustainable urban development.

The Circular Economy Cohort brings together eight participating cities:

• Phoenix (United States)
• Boulder (United States)
• Terrebonne (Canada)
• Guelph (Canada)
• Riga (Latvia)
• Porto (Portugal)
• Albacete (Spain)
• Debrecen (Hungary)

Phoenix offered a particularly relevant setting. As the fifth largest city in the United States and one of North America’s fastest-growing urban areas, it has been embedding circular economy principles into its city planning since 2011, with targets focused on zero waste, zero carbon emissions, clean water, and resilient food systems by 2050.

The program combined site visits, knowledge exchange, and joint working sessions. Participants visited the Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona Retail Operations Center and the Arizona State University Circular Plastics Microfactory, gaining first-hand insight into regional material processing and recycling systems that can be replicated across different urban contexts.

A key moment of the day was the presentation of the Rio Reimagined Initiative, illustrating how Phoenix brings together communities across Maricopa County and two Native Nations to collaborate on shared river governance – an issue of particular importance in arid regions.

These practical insights fed directly into a joint workshop, where participating cities began mapping out priorities and collaborative activities for the months ahead under the EU Cities Gateway framework. As noted during the discussions, the exchange reaffirmed a common understanding: cities benefit from working collectively to address complex urban challenges.

The cluster meeting also took place alongside the EU – US Circular Economy Forum (23 – 24 April), jointly organized by the City of Phoenix, the Arizona Governor’s Office, and the European Union Delegation to the United States, extending opportunities for transatlantic dialogue on circular economy solutions.

Below we share some of the key moments in our photo gallery.