Overview
This report focuses on the qathet Regional District (qRD), where construction activity and the broader built environment play a significant role in the local economy. Planning and development in the qRD are shaped by the realities of a remote coastal setting, shifting population needs, and evolving housing and infrastructure demands. The assessment seeks to better understand the qathet Regional District’s construction, renovation, and demolition (CRD) sector; identify opportunities to advance circular economy practices; and assess regional gaps that could be addressed through the development of circular hubs.
Scope and Structure
The primary goal of this Regional Market Assessment Study is to inform the development of a regional circular economy hub in the qRD, with the potential to revitalize the local economy through skilled job creation, value-added production, repurposing of underutilized infrastructure, innovation, and stronger local supply chains. The assessment examined current and emerging capacity for diverting CRD materials, reflecting the region’s scale, economic conditions, and infrastructure. Drawing on insights from a targeted group of contributors, it offers practical direction for industry, government, and supporting organizations, while highlighting opportunities to strengthen collaboration across the networks shaping recovered building material markets.
Study activities included:
- Conducting targeted interviews with local construction businesses, government representatives, reuse organizations, social enterprises, and industry associations.
- Hosting a community workshop to capture perspectives of local contributors and identify barriers and opportunities.
- Analyzing data on construction trends, existing housing stock, renovations and demolitions.
- Documenting existing material management infrastructure and processing capacity.
- Reviewing existing disposal, reuse, and recycling practices.
- Estimating current volumes and potential impacts of CRD waste by material type (e.g., wood, concrete, asphalt shingles, drywall) and building sector (residential, industrial, commercial, institutional).
- Estimating the economic value and untapped potential of diverting CRD waste, and potential beneficial uses for each material type.