In a linear economy, natural resources are extracted from the environment and transformed into products that are consumed and ultimately disposed as waste. A recycling economy is better, but only addresses what we do with materials at their "end of life." A circular economy aims to eliminate waste and close the loop through product design and innovative business models, continuously cycling materials through the economy and reducing the overall environmental impact over their lifecycles.

Read our primer on the circular economy to learn how local governments can benefit from embracing circular economy principles in the built environment.