C & D WASTE
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS |
No doubt you have heard this phrase before. The 3Rs are an order of priority
for managing waste materials of any kind. Reduce is first because it requires
the least resources, (except planning and design skills), and typically has
the greatest return in terms of efficiency and dollars. Reuse is second because
now resources have been used and waste or scrap produced. But, there are uses
for the waste that don't require additional inputs of energy to convert that
material to a new product. Recycling is third because energy and time is required
to collect, sort and convert the waste back to a useful product. Still, recycling
is often more efficient than throwing money away by paying disposal costs. The
key to applying the 3Rs in the most effective and economical manner is planning.
Reduce
Eliminate waste before it is created. Reduction of waste will reduce costs
associated with handling, managing and disposing of waste materials, it may
even reduce material costs by enhancing efficiency of the materials purchased.
Reduction can save a contractor money. (Refer to the calculate potential page
to determine how much you are throwing away.) Strategies for reducing waste
are most effective when developed during the design and planning phases of home
construction and understood by all employees and subcontractors. Three main
strategies that a contractor can employ for reducing waste during the planning
and construction phases are:
1. Design out waste
- Know what you typically throw out and focus on finding alternatives
- Base design dimensions on standard material sizes
- Determine process modifications that reduce waste and specify them
- Favor designs that use materials efficiently e.g. two-foot module, stacked
framing and single top plate (Optimum Value Engineering)
- Incorporate re-used and salvaged building materials into the building's
design
- Cut and fill on-site; don't haul top soil off site
2. Purchase "Green"
- Choose engineered products that reduce rejects
- Incorporate reclaimed materials into the project
- Make accurate supply estimates and order only what is needed; do not overstock
inventory (especially chemicals which can expire)
- Choose products with minimal or no packaging; work with suppliers to reduce
packaging
- Use materials that do the job with the least toxicity
- Purchase green materials, equipment and appliances throughout the project
3. Prevent on-site waste
- Establish inventory and housekeeping procedures; train employees to follow
the procedures
- Properly label containers to avoid mixing incompatible materials
- Ask suppliers to take or buy back any substandard, rejected, or unused items
- Request supplies be delivered on sturdy pallets or containers that can be
re-used; have supplier come and pick them up after use
Sources:
King County Solid Waste Division in Cooperation with Seattle Public Utilities,
Contractor's Guide To Preventing Waste and Recycling, http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/construction-recycling/documents/ConGuide.pdf
Sustainable Sources, Sustainable Building Sourcebook: Construction Waste,
http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/ConstructionWaste.html
Montana State University Extension Service, Pollution Prevention for Residential
Construction, http://peakstoprairies.org/p2bande/construction/ContrGuide/section8.cfm
Reuse and Recycle
Materials that cannot be eliminated through design, procurement decisions,
and on-site activities can be further eliminated from the waste stream by reuse
or recycling. Again, planning is essential to effective reuse and recycling.
The following are strategies to begin identifying reuse and recycling opportunties:
- Conduct an audit of waste produced. An audit is an account of what and how
much you produce. The 'Calculate Potential' section
of this guide will lead you through this process along the way to estimating
the costs of disposing of this waste.
- Check with your state and/or local environmental regulatory agencies regarding
specific handling procedures and requirements regarding hazardous wastes.
- Develop a Waste Managment Plan. Important aspects of the planning and implementation
process include:
- Involve everyone from distributors to subcontractors to recycling facilities;
familiarize yourself with opportunities, and them with on-site procedures
- Write clear procedures, e.g. separate materials into appropriate bins or
stacks; remove contamination, such as plastic or nails; day and time for pickup,
etc.
- Train employees to follow procedures
For more information on developing a Waste Management Plan visit the King
County Washington Construction Recycling Program at http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/greenbuilding/construction-recycling/index.asp Designing Specifications and Waste Management Plans (2001) provides
a model plan and model specifications to include in a contractor's plan.
- Follow-up the by reviewing procedures with all personel that visits the
site and by spot checking to ensure procedures are understood and followed.
Planning and partnerships will make reuse and recycling more efficient. Below
are a few considerations for reuse and recycling success:
1. Reuse / Salvage
- Reuse waste on-site first, e.g. wood scraps for bracing, drywall scraps
as fillers in closets, etc.
- Work with local salvage centers and used material exchanges (used building
supply outlets) to sell or donate lumber, fixtures, appliances, masonry, roofing,
etc. Refer to the 'Waste Material Exchange' section
of this guide to learn more about exchange programs. (Be sure to check salvage
centers and material exchanges for products during the planning phase of your
next home project).
- Donate larger pieces of scraps or other usable materials to local housing
and education programs, e.g. Habitat for Humanity, local theater groups, etc.
2. Recycle
- Recycle waste on-site first, e.g. grind gypsum board as a soil amendment,
etc.
- Work with local recycling centers to haul cardboard, wood, gypsum board,
plastic, etc. Lists of recyclers in your area can be obtained from your state
or local environmental agencies. These agencies may also provide contacts
for local end-use markets (manufacturers/composters/landscapers/etc.),
- Use smaller, more mobile bins for recyclable material. Put them close to
the activity that will produce the waste.
- Put easy to read signs on bins and spot check to ensure that contamination
from other waste materials is not being included in recycle bins.
- Buy recycled products to support the markets for off-site recycling efforts.
Additional Resources:
The Construction
Waste Management Database contains information on companies that haul, collect
and process recyclable debris from construction projects. Created in 2002 by
GSA's Environmental Strategies and Safety Division to promote responsible waste
disposal, the Database is a free online service for those seeking companies
that recycle construction debris in their area. Use the form below to search
the Database by state, zip code or material(s) recycled..
Residential Construction Waste
From Disposal To Management - A factsheet for builders discussing benefits
and general methods for reducing, reusing and recycling C&D waste. This
factsheet is an introduction to the builder's field guide of the same name offered
by the NAHB Research Center. Ordering information is provided at the end of
the factsheet. National Association of Home Builders Research Center by Peter
Yost, 1997.
- http://www.p2pays.org/ref/01/00173.htm
Waste Wise Update:
Building For the Future - This issue of the newsletter is devoted to construction
and demolition debris reduction and resource efficient building materials along
with resources for technical assistance in assessing and managing construction
waste. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002
- http://www.epa.gov/wastewise/pubs/wwupda16.pdf
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(Fact Sheet 2 of 10)
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