Exploring strategies for both individuals and local governments to adopt circular economy models, such as reuse networks, repair cafes, and material marketplaces.
By Jennifer Porter
Is scaling the circular economy possible in the U.S. today? And, if so, how do individuals and local municipalities find inspiration around such a daunting goal? To simply define the system: a circular economy is one where there is no (or very limited) waste, and all systems regenerate.
To answer the question of whether scaling such a system is possible, I start with the simple belief that it is. This is how nature works across the board, and consumer brands are catching on as well by marketing to consumers highlighting their sustainability commitments. One entity鈥檚 willingness to plant the seed of possibility is all that is required to inspire the inventive solutions that arise to meet our most intractable challenges.
Even in the ever-shifting global landscape, progress toward a more circular world is happening. The EU adopted its first Circular Economy Action plan in 2024, marking the widespread embrace of an idea once relegated to the periphery and standing in contrast to the traditional, linear model of take-make-dispose
Action Drives Change
Now, turning to my second question: how do sometimes-beleaguered local residents or municipal leaders find inspiration for these changes? The answer is through observation. By looking around, we can see that while there are many initiatives that require somewhat limiting necessities like infrastructure, policy support, or penalties, there are also others that can start simply鈥攊n a single store or neighborhood 鈥� and spread from there.
While landfilling may still be more economical where you live or work (potentially challenging adoption of circular economy models), everyone can find a way to disrupt this linear model in critical ways. On an individual basis, people can make personal commitments or band together with like-minded neighbors to find inspiration and evolve current processes. For those that work in government, the spark of the idea can also start with you to push for new programs on a community level. Just as belief in the possibility of such a system originates with a single person, so does the action that drives change.
Pioneering Programs
Following are five examples of circular economy concepts in action that can offer inspiration for pioneering thinkers in communities anywhere.
#1: Bottle-to-Bottle Return.
There are currently 10 U.S. states with recycling refund legislation for single-use containers. But even in those that do not have it, manufacturers can still lead the way with more sustainable bottle-to-bottle reuse. As one small-scale example, Ronnybrook Farm Dairy, packages its milk in sturdy quart glass with a $2 deposit. It is a simple idea, but it works as nothing can beat a financial incentive for motivating behavior. Lead acid battery deposits net 99 percent return rates nationally鈥攖he financial incentive to re-use is well-demonstrated.
#2: Refilleries
There are more than 1,000 refill stores in the US and counting, including The Callicoon Pantry, where consumers can bring their own containers to refill things like laundry soap, olive oil, or chocolate chips. Even during the pandemic, refilleries were able to stay operative by shifting to filling containers for their customers. LitterLess has a state-by-state shopping location guide which is a nice listing of zero waste stores.
#3: Fiber sharing
With the apparel industry contributing approximately 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, making strides toward a circular economy in this context is critical. Two noteworthy individual models are ThreadUp, where consumers are paid to return their clothes to the secondhand market, and Rent the Runway, where consumers cost-share through limited-duration single-use rentals. At the community level, evaluate options including placing a SMART textile collection bin in your town. With 85% of textiles still being landfilled everyday, there is a lot to do. We are standing on tradition here: the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles (SMART) Association of The Association of Wiping Materials, Used Clothing and Fiber Industries has been operating since 1932.
#4: Fix-It Fairs
Now a global movement with 2,500 events annually, a Repair Cafe doubles as a reuse event and a community gathering. The first caf茅 was in 2009 in Amsterdam, but now 16 years later, even in my rural town, we have sustained two Repair Cafes per year for the last five years鈥攕aving hundreds of items from the landfill, as well as saving some durable good replacement dollars for residents. Look for central places to host event (town buildings) and consider other energy and sustainability community program tables to co-locate 鈥� I cannot believe how many folks turn out on a Saturday morning for these events!
#5: Apps
With organic waste ranking as the largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, a myriad of apps have arisen to encourage zero food waste. This typically means moving potential food waste from restaurants/grocery stores to people in need rather than simply tossing these items within the usual 24-hour period. Many apps are free or low cost, easy to start, and able to be implemented in small and large areas alike. ChowMatch alone is free and available for use in 700 communities in the following areas: Northern California (Counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, Humboldt, Sonoma, Monterey, Sacramento, and Stanislaus); Southern California (Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Kern); Maryland (Montgomery County, and parts of nearby Baltimore, Prince George鈥檚, Fairfax, and Washington); New York (Hudson Valley); North Carolina (City of Charlotte, Buncombe County, and Madison County); Kansas (Riley County); and Illinois (Central).
A Proven Path
So, first believe that it is possible, then look around to find what inspires you, and make it happen today. We must move rapidly to mirror what we know works from nature. The circular economy is the well-proven path for the future. | WA
Jennifer Porter, a Principal Consultant at Raftelis, is a planning leader with more than 23 years of experience in government and private sector sustainability, circularity, and solid waste/sustainable materials management initiatives. She can be reached at (845) 481-1321 or e-mail [email protected].