> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.builtbydao.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.builtbydao.com/sustainability/circular.md).

# Circular Economy

Built By DAO operates on circular economy principles—keeping materials in use rather than sending them to landfills.

***

{% hint style="info" %}

## ♻️ Circular Economy Overview

|    🏚️ Recover    |   🔧 Process   |     📦 Reuse    |     🔄 Repeat    |
| :---------------: | :------------: | :-------------: | :--------------: |
| Salvage materials | Grade & repair | Use in projects | Continuous cycle |

**🎯 Purpose:** Eliminate waste by designing materials to stay in productive use

**🌍 Targets:** 90% waste diversion, 50%+ salvaged materials in construction
{% endhint %}

***

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="🔄 Principles" %}

## 🔄 Circular Economy Principles

### Linear vs Circular

| Linear Economy        | Circular Economy                  |
| --------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| Take → Make → Dispose | Recover → Process → Use → Recover |
| Resources depleted    | Resources circulate               |
| Waste created         | Waste eliminated                  |
| Value extracted       | Value maintained                  |

A linear economy ends at disposal. The circular economy we build closes the loop—materials we recover, process, and use come back as the feedstock for the next build:

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    R[Recover] --> P[Process]
    P --> U[Use · Build]
    U --> R
```

***

### Core Principles

| Principle                    | Application                 |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------------- |
| 🔧 **Design out waste**      | Build for disassembly       |
| 📦 **Keep materials in use** | Salvage, repair, reuse      |
| 🌱 **Regenerate systems**    | Restore rather than deplete |

***

### Material Hierarchy

| Priority | Action      | Example                    |
| -------- | ----------- | -------------------------- |
| 1️⃣      | **Prevent** | Build less, design smaller |
| 2️⃣      | **Reuse**   | Use salvaged materials     |
| 3️⃣      | **Repair**  | Fix rather than replace    |
| 4️⃣      | **Recycle** | Process for new use        |
| 5️⃣      | **Recover** | Energy recovery            |
| 6️⃣      | **Dispose** | Last resort only           |

***

### Every Building Is a Material Bank

| Traditional View         | Circular View            |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------ |
| Building is permanent    | Building is temporary    |
| End of life = demolition | End of use = disassembly |
| Materials = waste        | Materials = resources    |
| {% endtab %}             |                          |

{% tab title="🏚️ Material Recovery" %}

## 🏚️ Recovering Materials

### The Deconstruction Advantage

| Demolition                                              | Deconstruction                                      |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| 1-2 days                                                | 1-2 weeks                                           |
| Bulk recycling or disposal can lose reusable components | Target 90%+ diversion, prioritizing component reuse |
| Materials destroyed                                     | Materials preserved                                 |
| No value capture                                        | Significant value                                   |

***

EPA estimates about 144 million of 600 million US tons of C\&D debris went to landfill in 2018; most was directed to next use, including aggregate and manufactured products. Those figures cover buildings, roads, and bridges, not just house demolition. Direct reuse and recycling are different outcomes, so track both rather than assuming all demolished material is landfilled. [EPA C\&D data](https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/construction-and-demolition-debris-material)

### What We Recover

| Material        | Recovery Target | Reuse Potential        |
| --------------- | --------------- | ---------------------- |
| 🪵 **Lumber**   | 85%             | Direct reuse, refinish |
| 🧱 **Brick**    | 80%             | Direct reuse           |
| 🔩 **Hardware** | 95%             | Direct reuse           |
| 🚪 **Doors**    | 90%             | Refurbish, reuse       |
| 🪟 **Windows**  | 80%             | Restore, reuse         |
| ⚡ **Metals**    | 98%             | Recycle                |
| 🧱 **Concrete** | 90%             | Crush for aggregate    |

***

### Recovery Process

```
Site Survey → Soft Strip → Systems → Structure → Foundation
```

| Phase             | Materials                |
| ----------------- | ------------------------ |
| 🔍 **Survey**     | Assess all materials     |
| 🧹 **Soft strip** | Fixtures, finishes, trim |
| ⚡ **Systems**     | MEP removal              |
| 🏗️ **Structure** | Framing, masonry         |
| 🏠 **Foundation** | Concrete processing      |

***

### Quality Grading

| Grade          | Quality   | Use                |
| -------------- | --------- | ------------------ |
| ⭐⭐⭐ **A**      | Excellent | Direct reuse       |
| ⭐⭐ **B**       | Good      | Minor repair       |
| ⭐ **C**        | Fair      | Processing needed  |
| 📦 **Recycle** | Damaged   | Material recycling |
| {% endtab %}   |           |                    |

{% tab title="🔧 Processing" %}

## 🔧 Material Processing

### The Foundry Zones

| Zone            | Function            |
| --------------- | ------------------- |
| 🏗️ **Yard**    | Receiving, sorting  |
| 📦 **Depot**    | Storage, inventory  |
| 🔧 **Workshop** | Repair, preparation |
| 🔥 **Forge**    | Heavy fabrication   |

***

### Lumber Processing

| Step | Activity               |
| ---- | ---------------------- |
| 1️⃣  | Sort by species, size  |
| 2️⃣  | Remove fasteners       |
| 3️⃣  | Clean surfaces         |
| 4️⃣  | Grade quality          |
| 5️⃣  | Mill to standard sizes |
| 6️⃣  | Stack and store        |

***

### Masonry Processing

| Step | Activity         |
| ---- | ---------------- |
| 1️⃣  | Remove mortar    |
| 2️⃣  | Clean and sort   |
| 3️⃣  | Grade by quality |
| 4️⃣  | Palletize        |
| 5️⃣  | Store for reuse  |

***

### Hardware Processing

| Step | Activity           |
| ---- | ------------------ |
| 1️⃣  | Sort by type       |
| 2️⃣  | Clean and test     |
| 3️⃣  | Repair if needed   |
| 4️⃣  | Catalog            |
| 5️⃣  | Store in inventory |

***

### Value-Add Processing

| Process            | Example                   |
| ------------------ | ------------------------- |
| 🪵 **Remilling**   | Custom lumber sizes       |
| 🚪 **Restoration** | Historic door refinishing |
| 🔩 **Fabrication** | Custom metal work         |
| 🎨 **Refinishing** | Wood finishing            |
| {% endtab %}       |                           |

{% tab title="📦 Reuse" %}

## 📦 Material Reuse

### In DAO Projects

| Priority | Source            |
| -------- | ----------------- |
| 1️⃣      | DAO inventory     |
| 2️⃣      | Partner salvage   |
| 3️⃣      | Purchased salvage |
| 4️⃣      | New sustainable   |
| 5️⃣      | New conventional  |

***

### Matching Materials to Projects

| Project Need    | Material Match              |
| --------------- | --------------------------- |
| 🏠 **Framing**  | Salvaged dimensional lumber |
| 🪟 **Windows**  | Restored historic units     |
| 🚪 **Doors**    | Refurbished solid wood      |
| 🏠 **Flooring** | Reclaimed hardwood          |
| 🧱 **Exterior** | Cleaned salvage brick       |

***

### Inventory System

| Feature         | Function               |
| --------------- | ---------------------- |
| 🔍 **Search**   | Find materials by type |
| 📊 **Quantity** | Available amounts      |
| ⭐ **Quality**   | Grade information      |
| 📍 **Location** | Where stored           |
| 💰 **Pricing**  | Internal rates         |

***

### Sales to Community

| Channel               | Buyer           |
| --------------------- | --------------- |
| 🏪 **Retail**         | Public buyers   |
| 👷 **Trade**          | Contractors     |
| 🏛️ **Institutional** | Organizations   |
| 🎨 **Artisans**       | Makers, artists |

***

### Material Passports

| Documentation     | Purpose                  |
| ----------------- | ------------------------ |
| 📋 **Source**     | Where material came from |
| 📊 **Properties** | Technical specifications |
| ⏱️ **History**    | Previous use             |
| ♻️ **Next life**  | Future potential         |
| {% endtab %}      |                          |

{% tab title="🗑️ Waste Reduction" %}

## 🗑️ Waste Reduction

### Diversion Targets

| Scope                  | Target          |
| ---------------------- | --------------- |
| 🏚️ **Deconstruction** | 90%+ diversion  |
| 🏗️ **Construction**   | 80%+ diversion  |
| 🏢 **Operations**      | 75%+ diversion  |
| 🎯 **Overall**         | Zero waste goal |

***

### Construction Waste Streams

| Stream           | Handling            |
| ---------------- | ------------------- |
| 🪵 **Wood**      | Reuse or recycle    |
| 🧱 **Masonry**   | Crush for aggregate |
| ⚡ **Metal**      | Scrap recycling     |
| 📦 **Cardboard** | Recycling           |
| 🧪 **Hazmat**    | Proper disposal     |
| 🗑️ **Landfill** | Minimize            |

***

### Operational Waste

| Waste Type       | Solution              |
| ---------------- | --------------------- |
| 📦 **Recycling** | Comprehensive program |
| 🍎 **Organics**  | Composting            |
| 🔧 **E-waste**   | Certified recycling   |
| 🗑️ **Trash**    | Minimize              |

***

### Tracking & Reporting

| Metric                 | Tracking   |
| ---------------------- | ---------- |
| 📊 **Total generated** | By weight  |
| ♻️ **Diverted**        | By stream  |
| 🗑️ **Landfilled**     | Minimize   |
| 📈 **Diversion rate**  | % diverted |

***

### Zero Waste Operations

| Strategy                       | Implementation       |
| ------------------------------ | -------------------- |
| 🚫 **Source reduction**        | Less packaging, bulk |
| ♻️ **Comprehensive recycling** | All possible streams |
| 🍎 **Composting**              | Food and organics    |
| 🔄 **Reuse programs**          | Internal sharing     |
| {% endtab %}                   |                      |

{% tab title="📊 Impact" %}

## 📊 Measuring Impact

### Material Flow Metrics

| Metric               | Target | Current |
| -------------------- | ------ | ------- |
| ♻️ **Recovery rate** | 90%    | Track   |
| 📦 **Reuse rate**    | 50%    | Track   |
| 🔄 **Circular rate** | 75%    | Track   |

***

### Environmental Impact

| Metric                   | Calculation       |
| ------------------------ | ----------------- |
| 💨 **Carbon saved**      | vs. new materials |
| 🗑️ **Landfill avoided** | Tons diverted     |
| 🌳 **Trees saved**       | Lumber reuse      |
| 💧 **Water saved**       | vs. production    |

***

### Economic Impact

| Metric                | Measurement      |
| --------------------- | ---------------- |
| 💰 **Material value** | Salvage value    |
| 💵 **Cost savings**   | vs. new purchase |
| 👥 **Jobs created**   | Processing work  |
| 🎓 **Training value** | Skills developed |

***

### Social Impact

| Benefit                      | Measurement      |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------- |
| 👷 **Workforce development** | Members trained  |
| 🏪 **Affordable materials**  | Community access |
| 📚 **Education**             | Tours, programs  |
| 🌍 **Demonstration**         | Model for others |

***

### Reporting

| Report                   | Frequency   | Audience     |
| ------------------------ | ----------- | ------------ |
| 📊 **Project reports**   | Per project | Stakeholders |
| 📈 **Quarterly metrics** | Quarterly   | All members  |
| 🌍 **Annual impact**     | Annually    | Public       |
| {% endtab %}             |             |              |
| {% endtabs %}            |             |              |

***

<details>

<summary>📊 Circular Economy Impact Calculator</summary>

**Illustrative estimate: 1,500 sq ft home deconstruction**

These assumed quantities, carbon factors, and values demonstrate the reporting format; they are not a measured project result or a price quote. Verify project weights, material condition, destination, carbon methodology, and local value before reporting savings. The 90% diversion target cannot be derived from these item counts alone.

| Material               | Recovered                                     | Carbon Saved      | Value      |
| ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | ---------- |
| 🪵 Lumber              | 5,000 bd ft                                   | 2.5 tons CO2e     | $3,000     |
| 🧱 Brick               | 2,000 units                                   | 1.2 tons CO2e     | $1,000     |
| 🚪 Doors               | 8 units                                       | 0.2 tons CO2e     | $800       |
| 🪟 Windows             | 12 units                                      | 0.5 tons CO2e     | $1,200     |
| ⚡ Metals               | 500 lbs                                       | 0.8 tons CO2e     | $200       |
| **Illustrative total** | **Diversion requires measured waste weights** | **5.2 tons CO2e** | **$6,200** |

</details>

***

{% hint style="success" %}

## ♻️ Close the Loop

* 🏚️ Recover materials through deconstruction
* 🔧 Process and grade for reuse
* 📦 Use salvaged materials first
* 📊 Track and report impact
  {% endhint %}

***

## 🔗 Related Pages

{% content-ref url="/pages/XMWTNJ0aS7rbsvZdhYvO" %}
[Overview](/sustainability/sustainability.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/OIIWlHRgwDkkxFddBVNo" %}
[Construction](/sustainability/construction.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/K4LGhhlSHD4Pg68pR1BE" %}
[Overview](/the-foundry/foundry.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/pa0FUQ4xwpzvmYpKijDw" %}
[Our Commitment](/sustainability/commitment.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


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