Teton County sets zero waste goal for housing project

A construction site in Wyoming has recycled wood, metal and concrete.


Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area is attempting to reach zero waste goals at a construction site for an affordable housing project in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a report by the Jackson Hole News & Guide says. The nonprofit organization is partnering with Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling to work with crews and get as close to zero waste as possible.

Recycling dumpsters for wood, metal, cardboard, concrete, household recycling, compost and mixed construction and demolition (C&D) debris are at the site of The Grove construction project. The project is part of the county’s road to zero waste initiative where officials committed to diverting 60 percent of the area’s waste from landfill by 2030. Currently, the county diverts 38 percent.

Mari Allan Hanna, outreach coordinator for Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling, says in the report that the county decided to focus on C&D debris because the material that comes from it, such as metal or concrete, can be recycled repeatedly. She also says a third of most municipalities’ waste is from C&D debris.

County commissioners approved a $4,240 grant for the zero-waste project, the report says. Solid Waste and Recycling plans to conduct a workshop with companies in the construction, waste, hauling and architecture industries to share their experience with them.

Groundbreaking on the eight Category 1 affordable homes happened in the middle of June, the report says.