Diversion Impact

Significant

Establishing more local end markets for recovered materials strengthens the economic incentives to divert waste from landfills. As regional demand grows, recovering and selling these materials becomes increasingly cost‑effective by reducing or eliminating disposal expenses and by creating new opportunities for revenue. Local end markets also help lower transportation costs, since materials don’t have to be hauled long distances for processing or resale.

Community benefit

Impactful

For the producers of waste material (whether industrial or residential), the benefit is more abundant, convenient and affordable than recycling services. For the larger community, the benefits include more new jobs, increased workforce development, and a greater tax base. It also includes more affordable products (since recovered local materials can generally be acquired for less than imported virgin material). It also adds greater resilience to disruptions in the global supply chain, and an increase in community ties and hometown pride.

Value

Enhanced

The Material Flow Analysis for the KC Metro Area published in 2025 highlighted the difference between commodities and finished products. Today, most materials recovered in the region are sold to brokers as commodities and exported out of the region. There is some value captured, however it pales in comparison to the value that can be created with additional collection. The study illustrated the difference between the value of materials, parts, and products. For example, the parts and finished products manufactured for apparel bring 3x and 27x the value of the material used to make it, respectively. For electronics, the value of their parts and the finished product can bring 125x and 400x the value of the material used to manufacture it, respectively. By retaining recovered material locally and manufacturing new products with it, we exponentially increase the economic value being generated in our region.

Ease of implementation

Long-term effort

Requires an extension of the region's existing entrepreneurial ecosystem, increased awareness of existing financial support, and prioritizing the purchase of products containing locally recycled material. Transitioning economic development from producing products for export to producing for local consumption is termed "import replacement". It will be necessary to introduce and promote a different economic growth model to the region.

Getting started

The KC region already has a thriving and supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. The key is widening the aperture of that lens to support more circular ventures. For example, the KC Social Venture Studio has already funded and helped to mentor local circular ventures like Kanbe's Markets, KC Can Compost, and SendBack. There's an opportunity to focus specifically on circular manufacturing. Other pathways include increasing awareness of EIERA Missouri Market Development Program which assists with the purchase of equipment that helps manufacturers to use recovered materials. Qualified businesses in Missouri may receive up to 75% of specific equipment costs with a maximum funding level of $250,000. Local cities and counties can also specify and prioritize the procurement of locally manufactured products that contain recovered materials.

Stakeholders

• Critical Material Crossroads
• Foundation for Regeneration
• Missouri EIERA
• Economic Development professionals
• EDCKC
• Keystone Innovation District
• Lee's Summit Resource Recovery Park
• city and county staff involved with procurement