Colorado C&D Materials

Construction and demolition (“C&D”) materials make up 25% of the total solid waste generated in the State of Colorado (approximately 2 million tons in 2021). Nationwide, the EPA estimated 600 million tons of C&D generated in 2018, twice as much as generated MSW. Common components of this material stream include concrete, asphalt, lumber, metal, gypsum wallboard, roofing products, carpet and others and are generated when structures are newly built, renovated or demolished. Unlike peer states considered to be environmental leaders, Colorado does not have statewide policies that encourage C&D recovery and only has limited data that would provide a clearer picture of our whole system. 

Current markets exist for concrete, asphalt and metal but gaps still exist and it is assumed that the majority of other recoverable materials are landfilled without sufficient infrastructure or recycling markets in the state.

Recycle Colorado’s C&D Council stakeholder group and C&D End Market Development Report were launched in 2019 to begin building a circular economy for C&D in Colorado. At the same time, a focus on these materials as the next step beyond traditional household recycling and composting and as a significant part of climate and zero waste goals began taking hold organically across the Front Range and in our mountain communities. 

Hosted by the C&D Council, this page serves as a knowledge base to support the growth of the C&D industry.

Council Meetings for 2023

February 15th, 2:30-4:00pm

• Agenda from this meeting

August 29th, 2:30-4:00pm

• Notes from this meeting
• Urban Machine Presentation Recording
• Circular Economy Development Center Presentation Recording from Circular Colorado
• C&D Council Business Meeting Recording

November 15th, 2:30-4:00pm

• Notes from this meeting

Upcoming 2024 Council Meetings

February 21st, 2:30-4:00pm

May 15th, 2:30-4:00pm

August 21st, 2:30-4:00pm

November 20th, 2:30-4:00pm

C&D Policy Toolkit

The reuse and recycling of building materials is a proven industry gaining momentum across Colorado and the US. Diverting C&D materials makes significant impacts to local waste diversion, landfill air space, carbon capture, and creating economic resiliency in our local communities. Recycle Colorado is thrilled to present this toolkit as a guide to public entities providing resources, tips, and tools as they pursue sustainable built environment diversion goals. The toolkit is the result of a collaborative effort across multiple organizations, agencies, and individuals dedicated to developing diversion markets and pushing for better building practices and solutions. View and download the toolkit by clicking on the image to the left. 

If you have nay questions or would like to make additions to the toolkit, please contact Emily Freeman ([email protected]), C&D Council Chair or Ally Byzewski ([email protected]), Recycle Colorado Staff.

Current Infrastructure - Local Government and Regional Resources

Boulder County

• C&D Recycling Resources list - most service providers also operate outside the County
• Western Disposal offers contractors, builders, and homeowners construction waste recycling services to assist in meeting LEED, BuildSmart, and city of Boulder construction waste recycling requirements
• Town of Nederland- Construction & Demolition Debris Recycling Deposit Program

• C&D Recycling list hosted by CU Boulder.
• City of Lakewood Construction & Demolition Recycling
• 5280 Recycling

City of Fort Collins - C&D Recycling Resources list - most service providers also operate outside the City

Pitkin County - The Solid Waste Center diverts C&D materials and provides a list of accepted items on their website

Summit County Resource Allocation Park - The SCRAP accepts concrete, asphalt, scrap metal, clean lumber

Eagle County Solid Waste & Recycling - Concrete, clean lumber, metal

Yampa Valley Construction Salvage - Facebook Group

Private Sector and Recycle Colorado Members

• Biochar Now in Berthoud accepts wood waste
• Perks Deconstruction is a deconstruction contractor and salvaged building material seller
• 5280 Waste & Recycling offers roll-off and waste management services for C&D job sites
• GreenSheen will pick-up leftover latex and oil-based paints from construction/demo sites, businesses, or private residence for free
• Evraz Steel Mill, Pueblo - recycles steel from the equivalent of more than a million tons of scrap metal year
• Waste-Not C&D Recycling

Colorado C&D News

• Construction debris accounts for 52% of buried waste at landfill (Aspen Daily News)
• Public effort makes Pitkin County landfill stand out as state leader (Aspen Times) 
• Meet Anna Perks of Perks Deconstruction in North Denver - VoyageDenver
• Construction material recycling operation approved in Eagle County, Colorado 
• Deconstruction of Former Boulder Community Health Hospital Enters Final Phase With a Focus on City Climate Goals
• Colorado county creates landfill diversion program for C&D materials
• Recycling and composting requirement for apartments, office buildings and more looks likely to pass - Denverite
• Colorado grant opportunities provide funding for recycling projects (Construction & Demolition Recycling, 2021)
• Recycle Colorado Contractors Challenge (Construction & Demolition Recycling, 2019)

C&D Council Information

C&D Policy 5-Year Vision (2022-2027) - VIEW DOCUMENT

• C&D waste generators statewide have more incentives to divert their materials from the landfill through local policies or state-level legislation.

• Through its C&D Council and other advocacy, Recycle Colorado has supported the development of local policies that drive investment in processing infrastructure and new end market solutions. Emphasis is placed on promoting deconstruction over traditional demolition as a means of preserving value and better quality materials at end-of-life.

• A centralized recycling authority has developed greater knowledge and data reporting of C&D waste generation, material flows, recovery rates, and infrastructure needs in Colorado to support appropriate C&D policy interventions.

• State government leads by example with C&D recovery goals, data collection, and other strategies to reduce waste on state construction projects.