I.
BENEFITS OF CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT
Recycling and reuse of materials have long been associated with
wise construction practices. Experienced contractors are now
reaping the economic advantages of Construction Waste
Management. Communities are also seeing the side benefits as
listed below.
A. Trim Costs.
Recycling, reusing, and salvaging construction waste can save
money. Many of the contractors that have embraced Construction
Waste Management have made changes to their operations and
practices to take advantage of reduced waste disposal costs and
revenues derived from recycle, reuse and salvage materials.
Utilizing reuse and salvage methods on site reduce the need for
new materials, reduces materials that end up in the landfill,
creates a cleaner and safer project site, and improves community
relations.
B. Establish a Market Advantage.
A company’s experience in waste prevention and recycling is a
valuable marketing tool for bidding on projects in response to
customer interest in Construction Waste Management. Efforts to
prevent waste, to recycle, and to use recycled-content materials
on a project can help the project team earn points towards
qualifying for LEED and other local and national programs.
C. Create Environmental Benefits.
Environmental benefits also result from recycling and waste
prevention programs. In the long run, preventing waste reduces
dependence on natural resources such as trees, oil, and minerals
plus creates less pollution by reducing manufacturing and
transportation related emissions. Reduction of the energy and
water required to produce building supplies from virgin
materials contributes to reduced greenhouse gasses related to
the manufacturing and transportation of those materials.
D. Help the Economy.
Recycling and reuse of construction waste can also help the
economy through the creation of jobs related to salvaging and
recycling of construction waste. New products create jobs
through the manufacture of recycled content materials.
E. Assist Charitable Organization
Organizations such as
Habitat for Humanity can use surplus
building materials. Pick-up of materials at the project site
can sometimes be arranged.
II. PREVENT
WASTE IN THE FIRST PLACE
The following considerations can minimize waste impacts on any
size project. From the broad influences of design to the
specific methods used on the job-site, all play a roll in the
prevention of waste. See the
Internet
and Resources Guide for more information about
preventing waste!
A. Design to Prevent Waste.
- Design with standard sizes for building materials.
- Specify materials and assemblies that can be easily disassembled
at the end of their useful life.
- Design precast concrete members for concrete (Tilt-up)
construction.
- Choose durable non-toxic interior finishes or materials.
- Design spaces to be flexible for changing uses.
- Consider reusing materials (on-site) or installing salvaged
materials from off-site sources.
B. Plan for Waste Prevention.
- Target specific waste producing practices for waste prevention.
- Include waste prevention measures in a Waste Management Plan. See Waste Management Plan and Reporting Form.
- Communicate your waste management plan at meetings, post it
on-line, and promote the result.
C. Use Construction Methods that Prevent Waste.
- For wood construction, use advanced framing techniques (e.g. 24"
on-center, and insulated headers), trusses for roof or floor
framing, finger-jointed studs and trim, and engineered wood
products.
- Consider using wood frame wall panels prefabricated off-site.
D. Practice Job-Site Waste Prevention Methods.
- Set up central cutting areas for wood and other materials.
-
Reuse concrete forms or choose reusable metal or fiberglass
forms.
-
Clearly mark areas key to waste prevention, such as the material
storage, central cutting, and recycling stations.
-
Provide containers for recyclables generated by workers such as
aluminum cans, plastic bottles and empty aerosol cans.
-
Practice material storage and handling procedures to prevent
loss or damage.
E. Purchase to Prevent Waste.
- Purchase salvaged, recycled, or recycled-content materials and
equipment.
- Check to ensure the correct amount of each material is delivered
to site.
- Maintain an up-to-date material ordering and delivery schedule
to minimize the amount of time that materials are on-site and
reduce the chance of damage.
-
Replace toxic materials with less toxic or non-toxic products to
reduce hazardous packaging.
-
Choose products with minimal or no packaging.
-
Ask suppliers to deliver supplies using sturdy, returnable
pallets and containers. Have suppliers pick up pallets and empty
containers.
-
Require suppliers to take back or buy-back substandard,
rejected, or unused items.
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III. SALVAGE, REUSE,
AND RECYCLE
There are many methods used to reduce waste and increase profits
through salvage, reuse, and the recycling of construction waste.
In the industry, salvage and reuse are terms that are often used
interchangeably. For the purpose of this Guide, the term “reuse”
denotes the materials that remain on the construction site to be
used in their original form or converted to another use.
Salvage, typically in its original form, is items that are
removed from the site.
See the
Internet
and Resources Guide for more information about
salvaging, reusing and recycling!
A. Survey the Site Before Demolition
or Deconstruction
- Identify salvage and reuse
items
- Identify recyclable
materials
- Identify hazardous materials
for special handling and that may result in generating
hazardous wastes
B. Develop a Construction
Waste Management Plan
- List items being reused
on-site
- List items for salvage, both
resale and donation
- Plan for protecting,
dismantling, handling, storing, and transporting items
- Schedule for the removal of
salvage and recycle materials
- Consider using
deconstruction
C. Identify Reusable or
Salvageable Items
- Identify material that can
be removed and separated without undue damage
- Identify material of unique
or antique feature that would make it worth saving
- Identify material with high
resale value such as old true divided windows or carved wood
- Identify material new enough
to be reused easily
- Discuss reuse ideas and the
project timeline with the owner and the designer
- Discuss reuse ideas with
building departments if there are structural applications
- Consult a re-use or
architectural salvage company for help in determining
materials of value and methods of removing salvageable
materials in order to minimize damage
D. Select Salvage Removal
Alternatives
- Train your own or hire a
deconstruction crew
- Contact a salvage company to
come on-site to remove valuable materials
- Contact Habitat for Humanity
or other Charity to arrange pick-up of salvaged items that
are not feasible to sell
- Take materials to a salvage
center in the area
- List the items in a
materials exchange or advertise in the newspaper
- Conduct a “yard sale” at
edge of the job-site to sell salvaged items
- Allow workers to remove
salvageable items for their own use
- Ask subcontractors to reuse
or recycle their materials
E. Plan for Recyclable
Materials
- Investigate removal and
separation techniques or on-site waste volume reduction
(i.e. grinding) recycling options
- Select material with high
resale value such as copper wire and HVAC coils
- Plan for collection
procedures and allocate space on site including receptacles
for drink containers and other worker generated recyclables
F. Question Salvage and
Recycle Companies or Charities
- What items or materials do
they accept?
- Will they accept drop-offs
at their location?
- Will they provide drop
boxes?
- Will they come to the site
to remove the items or materials?
- When can they come and how
long will removal take?
- Will they visit the site and
place a bid?
- Will they pay for the items
or materials?
- What are the
charges/payments for pick ups or drop-offs?
- Can the company provide a
receipt for tax deduction of donated items?
G. Estimate the Costs and
Savings
- What disposal costs are
avoided?
- What hauling costs are
eliminated?
- What revenue is generated?
H. Consider other Project
Costs and Savings
- Compare the costs of reusing
materials and salvaged items to purchasing new
- Compare costs to reuse
materials and salvaged items (transportation,
reconfiguration of equipment, storage, etc.) on-site
- What is the functional or
aesthetic value of having reused material on-site?
- What are the marketing and
public relations benefits to reuse and salvage?
- What is the tax benefit to
donating items to charities?
I. Identify Hazardous Waste
Considerations
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Check
this List of Reuse or Salvage Items
At the start of a project,
evaluate whether these materials can be salvaged,
donated, or sold locally. Reused items can have
functional or aesthetic features of importance. Salvaged
woods can be of qualities or varieties hard to find
today. |
- Appliances
- Bathroom Fixtures
- Bricks
- Cabinets
- Carpeting
- Ceiling Tiles
- Concrete blocks
- Dimensional Lumber
|
- Doors
- Ductwork
- Flooring
- Insulation
- Landscaping
Materials
- Lighting Fixtures
- Marble
- Metal Framing
|
- Paneling
- Pipes
- OSB & Plywood
- Siding
- Tile
- Trim/Antique
Moldings
- Windows
- Wood Beams and Posts
|
Check
this List of Recyclable Building Material
When opportunities for reuse
or salvage are exhausted, recycling is the next level.
Deconstruction and construction waste materials that can
be recycled include (click on the material to learn
more): |
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IV. DESIGN A WASTE MANAGEMENT
PLAN
Successful and profitable job-site
recycling begins with a Waste Management Plan. This section will
help you through the process of developing a Waste Management
Plan.
A. Make a Waste
Management Plan
- Use these templates:
- Identify materials to be
salvaged, reused, recycled, and disposed of including
materials subcontractors will be responsible for
- Outline procedures,
expectations, and results for monitoring, collecting and
promoting waste management planning
- Designate a coordinator
responsible for implementing the plan
- Set waste management
goals, such as “Reuse or recycle 75 percent of project
wastes”
- Define types of wastes
- Estimate the amounts
- Indicate the disposal
method for each material reused in place, reused
on-site, salvaged, recycled, or landfilled
- Include handling
procedures for removal, separation, storage, and/or
transportation
- Communicate the plan to
all crew members
- Document waste
management requirements on project documents, including
subcontracts and specifications
- Communicate the results
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to Top
B. Researching Recycling
Options
- Contact the Sarasota
County Recycling Program at 861-5000 for assistance
- Contact reuse centers, recyclers and haulers using the
Service Providers' directory
- Contact
Habitat for Humanity
or other charities
-
What
materials are accepted?
-
What are the specific
guidelines for each material? For example, do they
accept forming plywood in “clean wood”?
-
Decide which materials are
mixed and which need to be source separated and the
costs
- Are drop
boxes and pick-up service available?
-
What are the collection
options: call for service; monitored drop boxes; or,
scheduled pick-ups?
-
Can you use an “on-site”
recycling service that will grind wood waste, dry wall
and other debris that will reduce volume and increase
the marketability of the product?
-
What are the charges for
services including drop box rental, hauling, and tipping
fees/revenues?
- Is there help to set up
the program and provide training for the crew?
- Are receipts provided
for tracking types and quantities of recyclables
collected?
C. Decide Which Materials to
Recycle
- Determine potential
recyclable materials and the recycling method
- Select what to recycle
- Determine cost and revenues
for recycling different construction wastes (source
separated and mixed)
- Determine costs for
disposing of wastes
- Calculate potential costs
and savings for recycling on a project
- Identify, based on
calculations, the materials to be recycled most
cost-effectively
- Be creative in rural areas. Partner with local
businesses, community groups, and others to determine if
there is local interest in using construction waste
materials
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to Top
V. PUT
THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN INTO ACTION
A well developed Construction Waste Management Plan combines
good communication with attention to details. Effective
implementation will foster employee pride and elevate the
corporate image. This will ensure success, maximize the
benefits, and provide a marketing edge.
A. Educate Everyone
About the Waste Management Program
- Share the formalized plan with everyone involved in the
project administration
- Discuss waste handling requirements with crew and
subcontractors
- Share procedures for checking bin status and the system
for notifying haulers for extra containers or pick-ups
- Post easy to read signs with written information about
the recycling program
- Continue education by making recycling updates part of
your safety program
- Clearly label the material containers. Use these
bilingual
signs to label your containers!
B. Find the Space
- Place garbage bins and
recycling drop boxes close to the point of waste generation,
but out of the traffic pattern
- Choose smaller containers
and more frequent collection. There are a variety of
container sizes and service options available from recycling
services or haulers
- Use smaller containers to
dump into large containers at the end of the day
- Ask recycling service
providers about containers with multiple compartments to
minimize the number of containers on site
- Rent a trailer for the major
recyclable material generated in the first phase of
construction and haul directly to the recycler
- If self-hauling, build
custom containers to fit the space requirements using scrap
or damaged plywood, concrete forms, or barrier fencing
- Use trash cans to collect
recyclables generated in smaller amounts
C. Make it Convenient
- Place the recycling
dumpsters as close to the work as possible
- Always provide a container
for trash near the recycling containers
- Consider mixing small
quantities of wood, cardboard, and metals to make one larger
load of recyclables
- Provide maps of the job-site
to haulers for dumpster placement and pickup
D. Promote and Educate
- Treat waste management like
a safety program. Integrate recycle training into the safety
education, or design a separate recycling education program
- Create a name or slogan for
the recycling program
- Provide incentives to make
the plan work
- Use signage and simple clear
instructions to communicate
- Be positive! When the crew
and subcontractors are motivated and understand the goals,
they will figure out creative ways to work efficiently
- Include everyone in the
process. Encourage suggestions on more efficient methods, or
additional materials that can be recycled
E. Prevent Contamination
- Clearly label the recycling
bins with bilingual labels. Post lists with pictures of what
is recyclable
- Provide trash bins to
collect non-recyclable items. Have them emptied regularly so
the overflow does not end up in the recycling bin
- Conduct regular site visits
to verify that bins are not contaminated
- Consider bins with lids or
locating bins in a locked or supervised area to discourage
contamination
- Dump out contaminated loads
and have the subcontractors and/or crew pull out the
contaminants themselves
- Regularly check the wastes
in the garbage dumpsters for recyclables
- Call the recycler before
drop boxes are full to arrange for pick-up
F. Track Your Success
- Once construction has
started, keep the receipts from recycling and garbage
disposal for planning estimates in future waste management
budgets. See Sample Tracking Form
- Use Worksheets to report the
results and cost savings from recycling on your project. See
Construction Waste Management Plan and Reporting Form.
- Tracking the quantities and
cost savings of diverted materials is required for BUILT
GREEN™ and LEED™ certification
- Share the success by posting
the volumes of materials reused or recycled
VI. USE
RECYCLED-CONTENT BUILDING MATERIALS
An important part of the cycle of
reclaiming materials is the reuse of those materials. Buying
recycled-content building materials supports efficient use of
our natural resources without compromising building standards.
A. Identify Recycled-Content
Building Materials
Recycled-content building
materials are durable and quality products, competitively priced
with conventional materials, and they help conserve natural
resources such as timber and oil. Many common building products
like Homasote paneling and blown-in cellulose insulation, made
from reclaimed newspapers, have been used for years. New
products using recycled materials, such as carpet and plastic
lumber, are being developed every day.
B. Know the Types of Recycled-Content Materials
- Materials can be
post-consumer, made from materials after a first use
- Materials can be
pre-consumer, created from waste materials as a byproduct of
manufacturing and used in another product
- Buying either type of
recycled-content building materials supports efficient use
of our natural resources without compromising building
standards
C. Discover How to Buy
Recycled
- Obtain information on
recycled products. Contact suppliers and manufacturers for
product specifications and samples
- Consistently communicate
your interest in recycled-content building materials in your
specifications, policies, and in your job-site meetings
- Look for products with the
highest recycled-content available, especially post-consumer
content that meets your strength and durability
specifications
- Look for recycled-content
products for your office or job shack. Copy paper, toner
cartridges, and desk supplies are readily available with
recycled-content
|
RECYCLED-CONTENT
BUILDING PRODUCTS |
|
Building Materials |
Site Work |
- Carpet
- Cellulose Insulation
- Ceiling Tile
- Ceramic/Porcelain
Tile
- Concrete Masonry
Units
- Countertop
- Dock Bumpers
- Ductwork
- Exterior Sheathing
- Fences/Posts
- Fiberboard
- Fiberglass
Insulation
|
- Floor Joists
- Floor Mats
- Flooring
- Lumber
- Paint
- Pilings
- Plastic Lumber
- Recycling Containers
- Roofing
- Structural Steel
- Underlayment
- Wallboard
|
- Asphalt
- Base Coarse
- Compost and Soil
Amendments
- Concrete
- Drainage or Backfill
aggregate
- Ecology Blocks
- Fill Material
- Ground colored glass
pipe bedding
- Glassphalt
- Parking Stops
|
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Solid Waste Ordinance
