UBC researchers team up with builders to expand circular economy

Key Takeaways:

• Researchers at UBC Okanagan and MMRI are tackling the significant environmental challenge of construction and demolition (C&D) waste by developing innovative circular economy models to maximize material recovery and reuse.
• The project, supported by the City of Richmond, NSERC, and Mitacs, aims to assess the techno-economic feasibility of reclaiming and upcycling C&D waste, demonstrating how local collaborations can drive global sustainability efforts.
• By reducing landfill contributions and promoting economic opportunities, the initiative positions Richmond as a national leader in circular economy practices while aligning with Canada’s net-zero emissions goals.

The Whole Story:

Researchers at UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering and UBC’s Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) have embarked on a groundbreaking interdisciplinary project to advance sustainable practices in the construction industry. Their focus? Tackling the significant environmental challenges posed by construction and demolition (C&D) waste.

The project, “Application of the Circular Economy to Demolished or Deconstructed Multi-Family Units and ICI Buildings in Richmond BC,” is funded through a collaborative partnership. Supporting organizations include the City of Richmond, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and Mitacs, a national innovation organization that connects businesses and researchers with access to talent, financial support, and collaborations.

“Construction and demolition waste, such as wood, concrete, and plastics, constitutes nearly one-third of global solid waste,” said Abbas S. Milani, Principal Investigator (PI) for the project. “Despite over 75% of these materials retaining residual value, the majority ends up in landfills.”

The project work packages, managed by Research Engineer Bryn Crawford at MMRI, address the pressing need for sustainable material management strategies, with the City of Richmond as the primary stakeholder in Canada, alongside industry partners VEMA Deconstruction Inc. and Axiom Builders Inc.

The multidisciplinary research team, led by Milani (Director of MMRI), Shahria Alam (Director of Green Construction Research Training Centre), Ahmad Rteil, Mohammad Arjmand, and Kasun Hewage, aim to develop a series of techno-economic assessment and life cycle assessment models, mechanical recycling and upcycling methods, and data-informed circular economy models.

Using these new methods and models, the group will explore how to maximize the recovery and reuse of C&D waste and then share their findings within the academic research community, industry, and municipalities.

The project’s outcomes are anticipated to significantly reduce landfill contributions, promote economic opportunities, and further establish Richmond as a national leader in circular economy initiatives.

Specifically, the team aims to demonstrate the feasibility of reclaiming C&D waste and converting it into value-added products, which can then re-enter the construction industry supply chain in the region along with other targeted applications.

“This initiative is deemed a vital step and one of first in its kind toward exploring how C&D waste can be transformed into valuable resources under a municipality-driven research project, showcasing how local collaborations can drive global sustainability efforts,” said Milani. “It also aligns with Canada’s net-zero emissions goals and highlights UBC’s dedication to cutting-edge research that addresses complex environmental challenges.”