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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. 

Resource Links
  • Construction and Demolition Debris: Material-Specific Data | US EPA - READ
  • Boulder County Construction and Demolition Infrastructure Study - READ
  • CDPHE Construction and Demolition Stakeholder Survey Results - READ
  • Recycle Colorado C&D End Market Development Report - READ
  • Construction and Demolition Materials Ranked By Value - READ
  • Asbestos Guidelines for Renovation and Demolition - READ

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

Current Infrastructure

Local Government and Regional Resources

Boulder County 

Boulder - Denver Metro Area

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

Colorado C&D News

C&D Council Information

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

  • 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.

Current Projects

C&D Policy Toolkit - VIEW DRAFT