Boulder’s Circular Economy Report Lays Out New Opportunities for C&D Waste Diversion
As part of its Climate Mobilization Action Plan, Boulder, CO worked with Dutch sustainability consultant Metabolic to develop a holistic picture of materials being consumed, transformed and wasted in Boulder. This study has helped the city more deeply understand the current material flows and identify opportunities for creating less waste.
The report found that Boulder’s yearly construction and demolition (C&D) waste was equal to the amount of material found in 52 single-family homes. Currently, 50% of this waste is going to landfill as there is no local recycling facility. Commercial building projects, which account for the greatest volume of C&D waste are exempt from construction and demolition recycling requirements, while non-commercial building and renovation projects are insufficiently monitored for compliance.
The report lays out a roadmap for closing the circularity gap, which includes several actions related to buildings and building materials, including:
mapping out key waste fractions and opportunities for industrial symbiosis
building an urban mining tool
developing guidelines for circular construction or procurement
evolving building codes to stimulate circular innovation and green space in the built environment
providing guidelines and training for local companies on circular renovation, construction, and deconstruction
Read the full report.