The shift from a linear economy to the circular economy emerges as a solution to save natural resources and to decrease the effects
of the climate change on the environment. Understanding the role of the waste as secondary resource and recovering it can reduce
the consumption of non-renewable primary resources, the consumption of energy in the production processes and can also lower
the CO2 emissions. The study aims at evaluating the environmental impact when applying the principles of the circular economy in
the solid waste management and the possible savings in terms of global warming potential (CO2 –eq.) in Romania. The evaluation
is done with help of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach on a case study in Timisoara. The study demonstrates that savings of
over 40.000 t CO2 -eq. per year would be possible in a city with 300.000 inhabitants. The concept can be applied (with appropriate
adjustments) also in other cities from Romania or from other countries, making possible the implementation of circular economy.