Community Materials Flow Analysis: A Case Study of Ann Arbor, Michigan

Abstract

Materials move through communities in the form of products and raw materials to satisfy human needs such as shelter and transportation. Though the flows of materials into and out of communities provide benefits, inefficient material flows result in social, environmental and economic costs. The efficiency of material flows can be improved by reducing the mass of materials used to meet the needs of communities as long as the reduced flows still provide the same services and the change does not introduce greater social, environmental and economic costs elsewhere.

This report presents estimates for the mass and economic value of flows of selected materials used to meet the need for food and water, shelter, communication, transportation, and clothing in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1997. The methodology developed for this study is presented as a possible approach for materials flow analysis in other communities. The inflow and outflow estimates from this study are used to develop recommendations to reduce the mass of material flows. Analytical tools are also introduced to help community leaders prioritize the implementation of recommendations.