Strategy 9
Engage with economic development specialists to identify opportunities for material recovery business development and growth.
Focus economic development efforts on scaling existing material recovery businesses in the region, supporting local entrepreneurs who are starting new circular ventures, and attracting material recovery companies from outside the region to bring their operations here to fill any gaps. Focusing business opportunities on growing end markets for recovered materials in the region is the goal.
Strategy alignment
| Diversion impact | Significant | High | Important |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Benefit | Impactful | Inspiring | Hidden |
| Value | Enhanced | Retained | Jobs |
| Ease of implementation | Expandable | Removable barriers | Long-term effort |
Strategies details
Diversion Impact
Important
Expanding the capacity of existing solution providers, supporting the growth of new ones, and attracting proven models from outside the region will significantly improve landfill diversion rates—especially when these efforts are paired with the development of local end markets.
Community benefit
Hidden
The benefit to our community is as varied as the businesses themselves (e.g., Bold Reuse enabling stadiums to embrace reusable serviceware to Missouri Organic, expanding access to rich compost and soil amendments). The main throughline with each is increased job creation and workforce development. Economic growth will happen at all scales: neighborhood, community, city, county and region.
Value
Jobs
Material flow analysis for the region shows that if we redirect the roughly $250 million in valuable materials currently being landfilled each year into local circular ventures, we could create more than 5,000 new jobs and build the region’s next billion‑dollar industry cluster. Prioritizing import replacement offers the highest economic value for locally manufactured goods.
Ease of implementation
Removable barriers
The MARC SWMD made initial inroads in 2025 by convening the first forum of economic development professionals in the region focused on the circular economy. Maintaining that focus, building an increased understanding of economic potential of material recovery and prioritizing the circular economy alongside other industry clusters will take ongoing effort.
Getting started
- Continue to convene the region's economic development professionals and elected officials on annual/semi-annual basis to showcase success stories in other cities and highlight potential opportunities.
- Create experiential opportunities for delegations to travel to other regions to see those circular economies in action.
Stakeholders
- Economic development professionals and elected officials (local, county and state)
- KCADC
- Port KC
- Chambers of Commerce
- Circular entrepreneurs