Measuring the Modeling the Value of Reuse: Toward Sustainable Consumption, Waste Reduction and Resilient Local Communities? Cindy Isenhour

WHAT… REUSE: “Redistribution of previously owned material goods, in their original form, from one agent to another through a transfer of ownership (sale, swap, barter, gift) or temporary use agreement (borrow, rental, lease, share, loan). We also include in the scope of reuse, activities designated ‘prepare for reuse’ such as restoration and repair services” BUT… A still “broad bag” with many different forms. Are all equal?

WHAT… 1) measure and model diverse forms of reuse relative to social, economic and environmental outcomes; 2) identify and model factors (economic, demographic, cultural, historical) that contribute to the relative strength of reuse, recycled material and new product markets; 3) contribute to future research by operationalizing and testing a replicable interdisciplinary methodology for the study of reuse at the state level; 4) support knowledge-based decision making for those interested in incentivizing and supporting reuse through policy and programming…

WHY…

EPA 2012

WHY… Recovery increasing! Fast enough? Product efficiency increasing! But…so is consumption… Arrows are getting thicker Materials use increased by a factor of 8 over last century (EEA 2014) Embodied energy, rebounds, backfire Oregon DEQ 2012

WHY… Much more effective/efficient to extend the lifetime of existing products than recover wasted materials … Avoided virgin extraction/production (minerals, metals, energy, water, emissions) More cost effective (no materials handing, waste recovery costs) Increased policy enthusiasm for reuse… UNEP 10YFSCP: “promotion of repair & maintenance as alternative to new products” Austin, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York and Detroit - programs to facilitate and support reuse - community swaps, repair events, and industrial symbiosis BUT motivations for, impact of and potential for reuse have received very little research attention

WHY… Reuse & economic value… employment, local development, household savings, economic leveling Minnesota PCA (2011) – 46,000 directly employed, $4billion in sales Reuse & ecological value… reduced resource demand, emissions, waste UK WRAP (2013) CO2 emissions avoided 1MT (300 cars/year) Reuse & social value… social capital, trust, relations of mutual support, improved resilience Stokes et al. (2014) collaborative consumption improves social trust

HOW… With your help!... Reuse working group Three year study: Track reuse markets in Maine and Nationally (materials, products, sales, employment) relative to county level economic indicators Surveys of business owners/consumers (motivations, barriers) Case study communities (measures of social capital and localized exchange) Net environmental impact analyses (automobiles, clothing, electronics) Household studies (net environmental impact, cost savings, social capital)

Measuring the Modeling the Value of Reuse: Toward Sustainable Consumption, Waste Reduction and Resilient Local Communities? Cindy Isenhour