Eagle County, though limited in developable size, is still a hot spot for new construction. Whether it’s much-needed employee/affordable housing, commercial buildings, or sprawling single-family homes, we are still building. What people may not consider is the impact construction and demolition (C&D) plays in our emissions and waste.

Did you know that C&D waste makes up approximately 25% of the total solid waste generated in the state of Colorado? In 2021 alone, the state reported a total of 2 million tons of C&D waste, which is the equivalent weight of 4,052 fully loaded Boeing 747s. 

Equally striking, it is estimated that 75% of all C&D waste that ends up in the landfill is reusable or recyclable and can be diverted. This is a huge missed opportunity for stewardship and resource efficiency. It might come as a surprise just how much C&D material is actually recyclable. The materials accepted include but are not limited to, concrete, asphalt, glass, ceiling tiles, insulation, porcelain, shingles, wallboards, metals, plastics and lumber. This, of course, varies depending on each collection site's capability, resources, and needs. It is important to note that C&D waste is not limited to large scale commercial projects, but includes residential renovations. In both cases, recycling should be considered.

Despite the volume of recyclable materials being generated, proper recycling of C&D continues to be a challenge. The most significant barriers are lack of knowledge and consistency across counties as to what is considered recyclable and how it should be sorted. Most construction sites have one bin on site that they use to throw everything into. In this case, most haulers take the materials to the landfill and dump them without much regard to sorting and therefore it does not get diverted. Sometimes, construction sites have a bin designated for metals or other specific materials as they receive a monetary kickback. Sites focused on C&D diversion will have multiple dumpsters, each designated to a specific material type in order to properly and dispose of the sorted waste produced. 

At the Eagle County Landfill, sorted materials are taken to the C&D Diversion Site to be recycled, repurposed or reused. One major benefit of properly disposing of these materials through the diversion site is that the tipping fee is significantly reduced- $15 per ton at the diversion site vs $48 per ton at the landfill. For large projects, be sure to contact Landfill@eaglecounty.us 48 hours in advance before arriving to drop off materials. 

There are multiple reasons why proper recycling of C&D materials is important, first and foremost being the environmental impact of these materials when they end up in the landfill. Not only does this type of disposal take up valuable landfill space, but these materials have potential to be repurposed, which drastically decreases the environmental impact. The creation of new materials is an energy intensive process. For example, cement production is one of the largest CO2-emission-producing processes in the industry. Recycling reduces the need for creating new materials. To give you more context, the average 2,500 square foot home contains 41 mature trees. Using reclaimed wood to build a 2,500 square foot home would save the energy equivalent of 256 gallons of gasoline.

Here in Eagle County, as part of the Climate Action Collaborative’s Climate Action Plan, we have the goal of diverting 100% of all recoverable C&D waste from the landfill by 2030. According to the 2024 annual Eagle County Waste Division report, we saw a total of 12,318.10 tons of recycled C&D materials last year. This is a 48.9% increase of recycled C&D materials year over year from 2023, which is amazing progress! This means that more construction sites or home projects were properly sorted and recycled in comparison to previous years.

To support continued progress toward our goals, Walking Mountains- with contribution from our Materials Management Working Group, has developed a Construction & Demolition Recycling Resource tailored specifically for Eagle County. This resource, available in Spanish and English, simplifies how and where to recycle C&D materials based on material type. It lists haulers and drop sites for each category, such as appliances, wood waste, building materials, asphalt, etc. As well as the expected tipping fee and savings in some scenarios.

Whether you have a DIY construction project or you work in the building industry, take some time to look over the Construction and Demolition Recycling Resource to see how these materials can be recycled. Every ton of recycled material represents progress towards reduced emissions, money savings, and resource efficiency that makes a huge difference towards our goals.

Chantel Recksiedler is the Climate Action Collaborative Coordinator. The Climate Action Collaborative is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Eagle County 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050.