Circular Economy

Bringing together policymakers, manufacturers, and consumers and assessing all sectors and interconnectivities to develop a life cycle approach to the circular economy and moving to a zero waste future (materials and energy)

Bringing together policymakers, manufacturers, and consumers and assessing all sectors and interconnectivities to develop a life cycle approach to the circular economy and moving to a zero waste future (materials and energy)

Over 90% of the global economy continues to function with the unsustainable, linear “take-make-toss” process in relation to materials. Manufacturers rely on raw natural resources for processing and production, and the materials produced largely lack viability or end of use/life strategy. The circular economy looks to reduce waste in the life cycle of production and increase efficiency and effectiveness of recycling at the end of life for products.

Colorado School of Mines, the Payne Institute for Public Policy and our partners are working to address this issue and generate important research on the circular economy. Colorado School of Mines has expertise at every point of production. From the initial identification and extraction of natural resources, to processing, manufacturing, distribution, and product end-of-life reclamation. Through collaboration on campus with our geophysics, mining engineering, advanced manufacturing, mechanical engineering and chemistry departments and others. As well as off campus collaboration with NREL and various industry partners, the Payne Institute is connecting its breath of technical expertise with the world of public policy to bring the issue of the circular economy to the forefront.

NEWS

Electrification of the joint force: Challenges and opportunities for competition in the Pacific and Arctic theaters 1/17/2025

Electrification of the joint force: Challenges and opportunities for competition in the Pacific and Arctic theaters

Joshua D. Simulcik, Fabian E. Villalobos, and Payne Institute Director Morgan D. Bazilian write about how the US Department of Defense will have to find ways to expand the portfolio of its energy sources, continue to refine its supply chains and delivery mechanisms for energy services, improve efficiency across systems, and maintain a focus on costs to increase growing demand for energy services on the battlefield.  January 17, 2025.

A new frontier in the voluntary carbon market: Old, leaky oil wells 1/16/2025

A new frontier in the voluntary carbon market: Old, leaky oil wells

Payne Institute Energy Finance Lab Director Brad Handler contributed to this article about how over the last two years, developers have generated roughly 5 million carbon credits from cleaning up orphaned oil and gas wells.  If disused wells remain unplugged — the term of art for closing them up with concrete and remediating the environment around them — they can leach toxic chemicals and spew planet-warming methane into the air.  January 16, 2025.

BP’s largest terminal in Azerbaijan hit gas-flaring record in 2024

BP’s largest terminal in Azerbaijan hit gas-flaring record in 2024

Payne Institute Earth Observation Group provided the flaring data for BP’s largest terminal in Azerbaijan, Sangachal, which flared record-breaking amounts of gas in 2024 with their VIIRS Nightfire service. This data is based on Suomi NPP satellite imagery gathered by NASA/NOAA/US Defence Department, which uses infrared imaging to detect gas flaring.  January 9, 2025.

The American industry that wants more government intervention 12/18/2024

The American industry that wants more government intervention

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Elizabeth Holley contributed to this article about how President-elect Donald Trump is promising to slash government regulations and even eliminate whole agencies. But one American industry, mining, is asking for more government intervention, saying national economic and military security are at stake.  December 18, 2024.

Colorado’s leadership on reducing methane more important than ever 12/18/2024

Colorado’s leadership on reducing methane more important than ever

Erin Tullos, Stephen Curry, and Payne Institute Accelerated Methane Program Manager Simon Lomax write about how in the wake of the 2024 election, federal officials are expected to reassess the nation’s approach to energy, environmental and climate policy.  Colorado’s expertise in regulating methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, will continue to play a critical role on the national and global stage. In fact, Colorado’s continued leadership on methane may be more important now than ever before.  December 18, 2024.

Small and Medium Infrastructure Development Projects – Policy Implications

Small and Medium Infrastructure Development Projects – Policy Implications

Payne Institute Senior Fellow Jamal Saghir writes about how the many years of observations in developing countries make it very clear that no country can achieve sustained increases in GDP without spending on infrastructure, whether for energy services, water treatment plants, roads, railways, ports and airports, telecommunications, digital transformation, urban services, rural facilities, or environmental protection. November 26, 2024.

Geophysics and the Energy Transition

GEOPHYSICS AND THE ENERGY TRANSITION

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Carol Dahl coauthored portions of this book on geophysical monitoring as a means to carbon capture and storage and the energy transition.  November 24, 2024.

 

 

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For more information about the Circular Economy Research Area at the Payne Institute for Public Policy, please contact our Deputy Director, Gregory Clough, at gclough@mines.edu.