Circular solutions for construction, renovation, and demolition waste in Toronto

The city of Toronto is growing and changing rapidly, ever more now with the impacts of COVID-19 on the way people use and need space. With changing markets and needs, many opt to renovate or demolish and start new, all the while creating waste. This waste is often overlooked in conversations of green buildings and sustainable growth. This project uses systems mapping and visualization techniques to illuminate and explore existing barriers, possible solutions, and identify leverage points, in order to move towards a circular economy for construction, renovation, and demolition waste in Toronto. Visualizations illustrate the policy framework which influences Toronto’s construction, renovation, and demolition waste (CRD) landscape, and explore strategy documents and processes produced by the City of Toronto. Inspiration for recommendations is drawn from policies, markets, and communities around the world.

Key words: circular economy, construction renovation and demolition waste, systems thinking, systems change, sustainable cities, sustainable, sharing economy, re-use remanufacturing and repurposing, waste management