Waste is an inevitable outcome of the economy geared on growth – with its overproduction, overconsumption and disposability. While we keep creating waste, the problem is that it does not disappear, even when the various recycling and waste management systems are in place. The circular economy comes with a promise to change this. In this lecture, however, it is argued that this promise is illusory. Hervé Corvellec (Service Management, Lund University) will take us through the promises and pitfalls of the circular economy to address the crucial question: what can be done with waste?