In the context of depopulation and growing scarcity of resources, the issue of building a circular economy is relevant. Maintaining the sustainability of all spheres of economic activity and life is possible only with the rational use of available resources, ensuring their optimal use with a minimum amount of untreated waste. The circular economy provides for the reorientation of economic activities to maximize the preservation of the value of products, materials and resources and minimize the amount of waste generated and polluting emissions through reduction, reuse, modernization, reconstruction, recycling and other elements of the framework. In the article, based on the analysis of world experience in the field of modern strategies for processing, recycling and disposal of waste, the directions for improving these processes are determined, the concept of a circular economy, the use of a circular economy for the transition to waste-free production and consumption, its distinctive features and characteristics are considered. The features of the implementation of the strategy of the circular economy of technology in various countries are studied; the positive and negative aspects of the introduction of the principles of the circular economy in the country are identified. The main features and aspects of the concept of a circular economy, which is replacing the usual linear economic development model, are considered and analysed. in this regard, the article presents various tools for assessing the development of the circular economy in the socio-economic space; their main differences are formulated and the results of a comparative analysis are presented. It has been established that the main direction is the use of the principles of the circular economy, the directions of its development are identified, which, first of all, include the creation of a closed economic cycle, which will achieve a sharp reduction in the consumption of primary raw materials and ensure the maximum possible use of waste. The importance of the formed concept in the conditions of sustainable development is proved. A comparative analysis of the characteristics of the circular economy and the criteria of a fundamentally contested theory has been carried out, and appropriate conclusions have been drawn.