Constructing a Circular Economy in NYS:
Deconstruction and Building Material Reuse
2024 - NYS WhitePaper
Executive Summary
This white paper was authored by Cornell University researchers led by the Circular Construction Lab and Just Places Lab in collaboration with community organizations and industry experts within the New York State-based Circularity, Reuse, and Zero Waste Development (CR0WD) network. This work was generously supported by The 2030 Project, a Cornell University climate initiative housed within the Atkinson Center for Sustainability.
The white paper consists of an analysis of the current linear construction economy in New York State, an assessment of the economic, environmental, and social potential of deconstruction and reuse, and state-level policy and practice recommendations based on this assessment. The intent of this analysis is to aid policymakers, state agencies, and local governments in the development of a circular economy in New York State.
Demolition and Waste in New York State
New York State (NYS) aspires to lead the nation in climate adaptation, circular economy, and sustainability, while strengthening the economy and improving quality of life for its communities. Ambitious goals set forth in the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA); 2022 Executive Order 22: Leading by Example: Directing State Agencies to Adopt a Sustainability and Decarbonization Program; and 2023 New York State Solid Waste Management Plan: Building the Circular Economy Through Sustainable Materials Management (SWMP) include building a green workforce, dramatically lowering carbon emissions, reducing waste, and transitioning to a circular economy.
A focus on the built environment is paramount in accomplishing these goals. NYS produces more than 18 million tons of construction and demolition (C&D) debris annually from buildings, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, which represents 46% of all waste generated in the state. C&D debris from construction, renovation, and demolition of buildings alone amounts to 7.7 million tons annually, of which, 58% is landfilled, combusted, or exported. The glut of wasted C&D materials is worsening NYS’s waste crisis, which is poised to escalate as the state’s two largest landfills that accept C&D, the Town of Brookhaven Landfill and Seneca Meadows—together accounting for over 30% of the state’s C&D landfill capacity—are scheduled to close or stop accepting C&D waste by the end of 2025. Buildings and waste are the first and fourth largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting sectors in NYS, together responsible for 43% of annual emissions. These vast quantities of GHG emissions and waste can be largely attributed to linear “take-make-waste” construction, demolition, and landfilling practices that undermine the state’s economic potential and compromise the health of NYS communities.
New York State Tomorrow: The Potential of Deconstruction and Reuse
Amidst NYS’s challenges with waste and climate change lies a transformative opportunity. The transition to a circular construction economy represents the possibility to unlock billions of dollars of unrealized economic activity, introduce thousands of new green jobs, divert millions of tons of waste, and prevent 75% of embodied carbon emissions. A crucial step toward a circular construction economy is replacing wasteful building demolition practices with deconstruction, which is the systematic dismantling of a building or structure. Deconstruction maximizes the recovery of building materials for reuse, thereby generating the most economic value over multiple lifecycles. Relative to demolition and landfilling, deconstruction and reuse create considerably more economic, environmental, and social value, and can be instrumental in achieving NYS’s economic and climate goals.
A shift to a circular construction economy is not only a matter of environmental sustainability, it is an economic and social imperative for NYS. This white paper examines the potential impacts and feasibility of this paradigm shift, suggesting operational changes and policy recommendations based on an in-depth analysis of current conditions and precedents from around the country. The following chapters outline the status quo of demolition and landfilling in NYS, identify economic, social, and environmental opportunities for deconstruction and reuse at scale, and recommend necessary policy interventions and investments to position NYS as the national leader in deconstruction and building material reuse. Below is a summary of the policy recommendations discussed in detail in the section State-Level Policy and Practice Recommendations.
Released on October 3rd, 2024 the NYS White Paper "Constructing a Circular Economy in NYS: Deconstruction and Building Material Reuse" provides an in-depth perspective on the State's current linear construction economy and an assessment of the economic, environmental, and social potential of deconstruction and reuse. The paper concludes with a set of state level policy and practice recommendations to aid policymakers, and local and state government agencies, in the development of a circular economy in New York State.
Constructing a Circular Economy in NYS: Deconstruction and Building Material Reuse is available to download for free below:
“Building decarbonization will play a critical role in New York’s green transition which will fuel sustainable economic development and help foster thousands of good-paying jobs for New Yorkers. We believe groundbreaking initiatives, including this whitepaper, the NYC Green Economy Action Plan, and NYCEDC’s Clean and Circular: Design and Construction Guidelines, will scale the clean construction industry and advance a built environment that will result in a much lower carbon footprint for one of highest polluting sectors in New York City.”
Cecilia Kushner, Chief Strategy Officer, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
“Considering the significant contribution to the waste stream that building materials represent, deconstruction and reuse of building materials presents an impactful opportunity. Despite the waste reduction potential, there are still barriers to participation, and addressing these concerns through a variety of mechanisms can pave the way for increased diversion.”
Kat McCarthy, Deputy Director, Recycling and Materials Management of Tompkins County, NY
"There are so many reasons how and why we can reuse entire buildings and individual building materials. This white paper thoughtfully identifies the current problem with our “take-make-waste” building and material management, but also describes many solutions with examples of successes across the nation. This document can be a blueprint for any organization and any tribal nation & local government unit to implement successful and sound sustainability practices that benefit the community while keeping buildings and building materials in continued use.”
Melissa Wenzel, Built Environment Sustainability Administrator, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
"As structural engineers who strive to reduce the environmental impact of all our projects, we are excited by the circular economy vision and policy framework outlined in this white paper. Legislation like this is crucial in helping us move the needle on the construction industry's adverse effect on our climate."
Dan Bergsagel, Sustainability Lead, schlaich bergermann partner, New York City, NY
"Buildings represent approximately 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in the City of Ithaca, however, as the saying goes, 'you can't manage what you can't measure'. If the City could measure emissions from the total lifecycle of buildings, those numbers would skyrocket and we'd scramble to correct course in our climate mitigation plan. The work of the Circular Construction Lab combines the market innovation and policy drivers into a package that local governments, including the City of Ithaca, can utilize to drastically cut emissions and landfill waste."
Rebecca Evans, Director of Sustainability, City of Ithaca, NY
“Our mission at Historic Ithaca and Significant Elements, our architectural salvage retail store, is to keep valuable building materials out of the waste stream and to be reused. We’re excited about this fabulous new resource, Constructing a Circular Economy in New York State, which we’ll use in our work with developers, individual property owners, elected officials, and government agency staff. The white paper presents factual evidence that existing buildings, and their parts should be reused for a sustainable future.”
Susan Holland, Executive Director, Historic Ithaca, NY
"This white paper is an essential guide to the building deconstruction and reuse needs of New York State. According to the NYS Department of Conservation, nearly half of all waste generated in the state is from construction and demolition debris from the built environment. If New York is to continue to lead on climate adaptation and sustainability, it cannot overlook the waste generated by this sector. This critical area of embodied carbon emissions is ripe for policy action."
Mikhail Haramati, State Industrial Decarbonization Lead, Climate & Clean Energy Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
“This Circular Economy white paper is an incredibly thorough report, grounded in the distinct context of New York State. It brings to light the issues and damage of current processes in a tangible and place-based way. Meanwhile, the potential of a more circular future is already evidenced by the growing community and government action highlighted in the report. CR0WD's research illustrates that reuse and deconstruction are common sense. I hope that this work paves the way for continued partnerships, new precedents, and broad support. Can't wait to follow the next steps toward a circular construction reality in NYS and beyond.”
Yarden Harari, Senior Associate, Arcadis / Founding Member, RECLAIM NYC
This white paper was authored by Cornell University researchers led by the Circular Construction Lab and Just Places Lab in collaboration with community organizations and industry experts within the New York State-based Circularity, Reuse, and Zero Waste Development (CR0WD) network. This work was generously supported by The 2030 Project, a Cornell University climate initiative housed within the Atkinson Center for Sustainability.
CR0WD Editorial Team:
- Wyeth Augustine-Marceil, Project Lead, Circular Construction Lab & Just Places Lab
- Felix Heisel, Assistant Professor, Cornell University Department of Architecture and Director, Circular Construction Lab
- Jennifer Minner, Director of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor, Cornell University Department of City and Regional Planning and Director, Just Places Lab
- Diane Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, Finger Lakes ReUse
- Gretchen Worth, Director, Susan Christopherson Center for Community Planning
Cornell University Research Team:
- Denise Ramzy, Senior Lecturer, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
- Lori Leonard, Chair, Department of Global Development
- Courtney Bower, Just Places Lab
- Roma Patel, Circular Construction Lab
- Junbo Huang, Just Places Lab
- Annie Stewart, Susan Christopherson Center for Community Planning
- Kai Foti, Susan Christopherson Center for Community Planning
Research Consultancy:
- Brad Guy, Material Reuse
Layout and Graphics:
- David Perovsek, Circular Construction Lab
Preferred Citation:
Heisel, Felix, Minner, Jennifer, Augustine-Marceil, Wyeth, Cohen, Diane, Worth, Gretchen (eds.), Constructing a Circular Economy in New York State: Deconstruction and Building Material Reuse. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Circular Construction Lab, Cornell Just Places Lab, and CR0WD, 2024.