COMMUNITY ENERGY PLANNING A Guide for Communities

Acknowledgements Many people and organizations contributed to the development of this guidebook. We would like to
thank the following for their contributions. Carolyn Watkins, Ohio EPA, Chief, Environmental Education Fund
Nancy Moore, Ohio EPA, Office of Pollution Prevention
Diane Shew, Association of Ohio Recyclers
Irm Schubert, President, Association of Ohio Recyclers
Holly Christmann, Hamilton County Environmental Services
Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio
Hamilton County Environmental Services
Mary Wiard, Waste Alternatives, Inc.
Dave Loewendick, S.G. Loewendick & Sons, Grove City, Ohio
Drew Lammers, King Wrecking Co., Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio
Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis
USEPA, Region 5
Illinois, DuPage County Solid Waste Department Disclaimer The information in this guidebook is provided as a service to organizations seeking information about reducing and recycling construction and demolition waste. Inclusion of specific information
regarding a particular company or process in this guidebook does not constitute endorsement by
any of the sponsors or authors, nor does it suggest that the companies listed are in compliance
with all applicable laws. Additional Information To obtain a copy of Ohios Construction and Demolition Recycling Directory for C&DD recyclers in
your area or if you have any questions regarding updates to this guidebook, please call the Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention at 614/644-2928. Construction and demolition debris (C&DD) comprise 15 to 20 percent of all the solid waste
generated in Ohio. This significant portion of the overall waste stream has not been the focus of traditional waste
reduction efforts in Ohio. That focus is now changing. The construction and demolition industry in Ohio has been relatively fortunate in the past to
have some of the lowest disposal costs in the country. However, as nearby landfills fill up and
close and the development of new landfills becomes more difficult and expensive, the cost of
waste disposal for construction and demolition contractors will increase. Although most con-
tractors already use materials efficiently, this rise in disposal costs will force contractors and
waste haulers to consider new waste reduction and recycling alternatives to more effectively
manage waste. The purpose of this guidebook is to help construction and demolition contractors in Ohio devel -
op and implement efficient programs to reduce the amount of waste they generate and dispose. Introduction Recycling Guidebook Recycling Guidebook Table of Contents Overview of C&DD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Overview of Waste Handling Methods 5
Issues that Affect C&DD Recycling . .5
What is Being Done . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Introduction Planning & Program Support Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Program Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Waste Reduction & Recycling Methods New Construction and Renovation Projects 10
Demolition Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Where Does it All Go? End Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Buy Recycled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Appendix APPENDIX A: . . Recycling Economics APPENDIX B: . . Waste Reduction & Recycling Specifications APPENDIX C: . . References & Information Sources APPENDIX D: . . Construction/Demolition Project 2 2 Common Terms Construction Waste
Materials generated from the con-
struction of homes, residential/com-
mercial buildings, and municipal
structures. Demolition Debris
Waste generated from the demoli-
tion of homes, buildings, commer-
cial and municipal structures,
roads, bridges, and parking lots. C&DD
Construction waste and demolition debris OCC
Old corrugated cardboard. Mixed-Material Collection and
Processing
Recycling technique in which recy-
clable materials are take from the
job-site in a mixed load, separated
at a designated facility, and sent to
processors. Source-Separation
Recycling technique in which simi-
lar materials are separated from
other materials at the job-site
according to categories such as wood, metal, and concrete,and sent
to processors
Time-Based Separation
Recycling technique in which the
efforts to recover a particular mate-
rial are focused during the period of
construction i in which the material
is generated. Waste Stream
The total flow of waste materials
from a particular community or seg-
ment of a community, as it moves
from origin to disposal. How Can This Guidebook Help Your Bottom Line? Government Demolition Project Project Description: Civil Defense Storage Buildings, Columbus, Ohio - era - 2nd World War Three 160x1,541 buildings - 246,560 sq. ft. Total: 739,680 sq. ft. Site Materials consisted of: timber con - struction, clay tile walls and concrete
slabs Prime Demolition Contractor: S. G. Loewendick & Sons, Grove City, Ohio Salvage:100 tons aluminum and 600 tons scrap steel Reuse: 600 6x6 timbers, 4,000 6x12 tim- bers, 900 12x12 timbers 739,680 sq.ft. concrete slab plus foot -
ings - 100% recycled
60,000 ton concrete crushed into 304 ton
aggregate 9,000 ton miscellaneous clay tile walls
and roof sheating materials disposed Total tonnage recycled: 70,600 88% of total building components
12% disposed at C&DD landfill 61,000 tons or approximately 3,500 loads
diverted from waste stream Savings: approximately $300,000 landfill fees Residential Demolition Project Project Description: Framed and masonry apartment build- ings. Kemper and Montgomery Roads,
Cincinnati, Ohio Fifteen buildings Total: 330,000 sq. ft. Site Materials consisted of: brick, steel, drywall and metals Prime Demolition Contractor: King Wrecking, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio Salvage:One ton metal - $500 saved 14,000 tons concrete - $24,500 saved 100 tons steel - $1,200 saved Total tonnage recycled: 14,200 Total Savings : $26,200 *Refer to Appendix D for additional
Construction/Demolition Project 3 3 4 4 Overview of C&DD A Few Examples Examples of waste compositions from construction
and demolition sites are presented below. These
composition estimates are very general and demon-
strate the types of materials that comprise C&DD.
The actual waste compositions from each site can
vary considerably based on the type of construction
techniques used, the primary structural materials
employed (e.g.,wood, steel, concrete, brick), and the
type of structure being built or demolished. Although the waste components vary from site to
site and from segment to segment, one thing
remains consistent - many materials in construction
and demolition debris are valuable and can be eco-
nomically recovered from the waste. Composition of C&DD Plastic 2% Glass 3% Paper 4% Metals 8% Building Materials 16% Miscellaneous
8% Wood 35% Rubble,
Aggregate, Concrete 24% Source: Construction & Demolition Debris....A Primer 5 5 Overview of Waste Handling Methods Traditionally, most waste from construction and
demolition sites is placed into roll-off containers
(typically 20 cubic yards in size) by the contractor or
the various subcontractors on the site, and removed
from the site as the containers fill up. Contractors
do not often pay much attention to where the mate-
rials go when they are taken off the site. Some waste haulers have made an effort to remove
valuable materials from these waste loads and send
them to processors for recycling. Such materials
include concrete, steel, wood, and OCC. If a load is
fairly uniform in any one of these materials, the
hauler may take it directly to a recycled material
processor. However, as shown by the composition estimate on
the previous page, construction waste consists of many more materials than concrete, steel, wood,
and OCC. In addition, most waste from a construc-
tion or demolition site is not uniform in any one
material. There are other approaches to recycling, such as
source-separation, time-based separation, and
mixed-material collection and processing, that can
effectively address a wider range of recyclable
materials and enhance the value of the materials.
Some of these approaches require additional effort
on the part of the contractor, whereas others do not. This guidebook will help contrac-
tors evaluate each of these
approaches for job sites. Recycling Programs source separation
time-based separation
mixed-material collection and processing Issues That Affect C&DD Recycling The state of recycling is a mixed bag. Concrete and
asphalt recycling has the most developed infrastruc-
ture because it has become common practice to recy -
cle these materials into reusable aggregate. Recycled
concrete aggregate is commonly used as base mater-
ial in road projects, recycled asphalt aggregate is
used in pavement for new road and parking lot con-
struction, and both recycled aggregates are used as
fill material. In addition, metal recycling from building
and demolition projects is also very common.
However, processing operations for other construc -
tion materials, especially demolition wood and dry-
wall gypsum, are not as readily available. There are several causes for the lack of recycling markets for some C&DD materials. Waste disposal (i.e., landfill tipping fees) has
been relatively inexpensive, often causing
recycling to be a cost-prohibitive option for contractors. Some C&DD recyclers have done a poor
job of processing and marketing materials,
thereby causing market prices to fluctuate and markets to deteriorate. It may be difficult to cost-effectively process
some C&DD materials for recycling because
many of the processing operations are cur-
rently regulated in the same manner as waste
transfer stations. Since the regulatory require-
ments for transfer stations are fairly rigorous,
these facilities are often more costly to per - mit, build, and operate than other recycling facilities. In addition, due to past illegal C&DD recycling opera-
tions, some local governments are now placing
greater restrictions on C&DD recycling facilities to
reduce the potential for site clean-ups in the future. Recent surveys were prepared and distributed to
solicit contractor attitudes toward recycling. Ninety-
five percent of local contractors who respond to the
surveys indicated support of recycling programs.
However, many believe that most recycling programs
are too costly or require too much labor to imple-
ment. In addition, many contractors indicated they
lacked information about how to set up recycling pro-
grams or who was available to take the
materials. 1 2 3 What is Being Done? Because the local residential and commercial recy -
cling programs have become more developed over
the past few years, solid waste officials are steadily
turning their attention toward C&DD. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Association of
Ohio Recyclers, Ohio Environmental Protection
Agency, Hamilton County Environmental Services
and Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio are
developing new programs to promote C&DD recy-
cling. Waste characterization studies can be conducted at
local level to help determine the quantities and
types of C&DD materials that can be targeted for
recycling. In many states, recycling pilot studies
are being conducted to develop more efficient ways
to collect and handle C&DD materials at the job- site. The information from these studies helps recy-
cling coordinators identify processors and develop
specific promotional programs. This information
also allows processors to get a better idea of the
kinds of materials that are available. In addition, the
Construction and Demolition Site Recycling
Directory has been developed as a companion to
this guidebook, to provide contractors with infor-
mation about recycling service providers and mate-
rial handlers. Efforts are underway to revise regulations that per-
tain to C&DD recycling facilities. These revisions
are intended to provide reputable and credible
C&DD recycling businesses the ability to operate
without undue permitting burdens, while still pro -
tecting the public interest. 6 6 Ohio Regulations Affecting C&DD Recycling The State of Ohios statue (ORC 3714) defines C&DD as those
materials resulting from the alteration, construction, destruction,
rehabilitation, or repair of any man-made physical structure,
including, without limitation, houses, buildings, industrial or com-
mercial facilities, or roadways. The statute does not prohibit the reuse or beneficial recycling of
C&DD. The statute excludes reinforced or non-reinforced concrete,
asphalt, building or paving brick, or building or paving stone that
is stored for a period of less than two years for recycling into a
useable construction material from being defined as C&DD Ohio adopted regulations (OAC 32745-00) does not address C&DD
recycling, just disposal. The only regulations affecting C&DD recycling would be general
environmental regulations, such as, wastewater discharges, air
emission...which would apply to any/all industrial activities. State of Ohio 7 7 Planning and Support The Key to Effective Recycling The key to an effective recycling and waste reduc-
tion program is proper planning. Proper planning
involves the following steps: Identify target materials that can be recovered
from the job- site and salvaged or recycled For construction contractors, watch what is being thrown in the waste roll-off boxes.
Inventory the waste components you see and
note how much of each component is present in
your waste containers. (See Appendix A for a form to help you do this.) For demolition contrac - tors, look for materials
that can be stripped out
and resold or reused when
you evaluate the structure
and building components.
Note the condition of
these materials, any unique qualities they may
possess, and the relative quantity of each materi -
al. From the materials you have identified, pick tar- get materials for recycling. Target materials are
those that: 1) are generated in significant quanti -
ties (at least 1-2 cubic yards per week); 2) have a
good market value; and, 3) are fairly easy to sort
on-site or be removed from the waste by your
recycling service provider. Use the tips in the
Waste Reduction and Recycling section and ask
your recycling service provider to help you
choose your target materials. For construction contractors, determine which subcontractors are generating which target
materials. For example, carpenters generate
mainly wood waste, whereas finish subcontrac -
tors generate packaging waste, such as OCC and
polystyrene. By determining who disposes what
materials, you can make each subcontractor responsible for reducing or recycling specific
target materials on the job-site. Determine when the target materials will be
generated during the construction or demolition
process: For construction, most dimensional lumber waste will be generated during the framing
stage, whereas most drywall waste will be gen-
erated later in the building phase. A recycling
program can be developed to take place in
stages, to correspond with the times that the
specific materials are generated. (See Appendix B
to find out more about recycling specifications.) For demolition, salvageable items will be removed from inside the building first. Next,
you may recover roofing materials or siding.
Finally, you may recover structural materials
such as steel, concrete, brick, and wood. Evaluate the economics of salvaging or recycling your target materials: (use the costs sheets in
Appendix A as a guide) Determine if additional labor will be required by your staff and subcontractors to separate the
target materials from the waste. In most cases,
little or no additional labor is required if you
can keep the recycling program as similar to
the current waste disposal system as possible
(e.g., locate recycling containers in areas
where waste containers are now located, keep 1 Garbage can be written into con - tracts to require recycling from sub - contractors (see Appendix B for more information). See the section on recycling methods to find out more about what is required for different recycling pro- grams. 2 Target Materials Should Be: Generated in Significant Quantities Have Some Value Easy to Recover 3 Planning extensive material separation to a minimum). Account for any
additional labor in your costing of the program. Set aside time to manage the program (approximately 1-2 hours per week and 4-6 hours up front for construction, and 4-
8 extra hours per project for demolition). Designate someone
on your staff to promote and monitor the recycling program,
educate staff and subcontractors about the program (especial -
ly in the beginning), and keep records on the amounts of mate-
rials salvaged and recycled and the costs incurred. Account
for staff time in your cost estimates of the program. Determine the cost per month of salvaging and recycling ser- vices from service providers who accept your target materials.
Look at collection services as well as drop-off centers (add in
your costs for transportation if you use a drop-off center). Use
the Construction and Demolition Site Recycling Directory, yel -
low pages, or contact your local solid waste management dis-
trict to help find service providers. Shop around for the best
deal. Estimate the disposal cost savings due to sal -
vaging and recycling.
Subtract the quantity of
your target materials from
your total waste to deter-
mine how much waste will
remain to be disposed.
Next, determine if a less
frequent pick-up schedule
can be arranged with your hauler or if they can place smaller
roll-off containers at your site. Both of these options will save
you money in disposal costs. Finally, estimate how much you
will save per month. Identify on-site limitations that may hinder recycling programs for
your target materials. Limitations may include: Storage space restrictions on-site
Language barriers with workers Poor access from point of generation to recycling containers or area Material conditions that make separation of target materials dif - ficult Excessive dust and noise generation
Fly dumping 4 Recycling Program Large Projects
Although large projects have an
advantage in that they crate a large
quantity of recyclable materials
that service providers are interest -
ed in, they have a disadvantage in
that there are more waste genera-
tors to manage. Large projects def-
initely require a designated per -
son(s) to overs see the recycling
and waste reduction programs. Small Projects
Small projects often do not gener -
ate enough recyclable material to
be cost-effective to collect.
Because of this, small project con-
tractors should reconsider either
transporting recyclable materials
themselves to material drop-off
locations or joining together with
other contractors to take material
to a central location for collection
by a recycling service provider.
Small project contractors should
work with their recycling service
providers and builders associa-
tions to set up such programs. Commercial Construction Projects
Commercial projects, especially
high-rise buildings, are often
plagued by storage space restric -
tions and the inability to get mate-
rials to central locations for collec-
tion. To combat this, cranable con-
tainers can be used at various lev -
els of the project and emptied into
a central container on the ground.
In addition, container pick-ups
should be scheduled more fre-
quently to cut down on the size of
the containers required and job
scheduling can be adjusted to pro-
vide extra storage space for recy-
cling containers. Renovation Projects
Waste from tearouts is often diffi -
cult to separate for target materi-
als. Most target recyclable materi-
als should be removed and either
salvaged or recycled before the Limitations 8 8 Fly-Dumping is inappropriate use of dumpster. Fly-dumping in containers can be controlled by placing waste containers clos- er to site access points or by tarping containers when the are not in use. Signage which discourages fly-dumping may also be effective. Once existing limitations are identified, you can
address them when developing your salvage and
recycling program. Each of these limitations can be overcome by properly designing your program,
and should not hinder your efforts. Ask your recy -
cling service provider for tips on how to overcome
the limitations you have identified.
Develop a recycling/waste reduction plan: Take the information you have gathered about tar-
get materials, generation schedules, economics,
and limitations and develop a plan for implementing
a recycling/waste reduction
program. This plan does not
need to be elaborate, but it
should be structured
enough to be easily fol-
lowed by those who oversee
the program. More formal-
ized plans for larger pro -
jects may
include recycling specifications. At a minimum, each plan should address the following: Waste reduction and reuse practices to employ (see the waste reduction and Reuse Sections); Target materials to salvage and recycle;
Salvage company, used material distributor, and/or recycling service provider(s) to be used in
the recycling program; Target material generation schedule;
Method of recycling to be used (see the Recycling Methods sections ) Designation of a person(s) primarily responsible for the program; Methods to educate workers on how to partici - pate in the program (see the section on Program
Support); Ways to monitor the program (see the following section); and, Ways to promote the program (see the following section). 9 9 5 Program Support Keep it Concise and User-Friendly Dedicate an on-site person(s) to oversee the recy- cling/waste reduction program. This person(s) will
be in charge of ensuring management support,
promotion, labor training, and monitoring. Distribute the recycling/waste reduction plan to all levels of management. Set aside time to explain the program to all of the subcontractors at the site and instill in them that it
is their responsibility to ensure that their laborers
participate in the program. Post signs that explain which materials can go in which containers for the program. Also, post signs
that suggest waste reduction methods in central
areas of the site. Often, these signs must be writ -
ten in several languages. Your recycling service
provider or local solid waste management district
may be able to help with signage. Periodically check the contain- ers to ensure that the proper
materials are going into them.
If problems exist, find the per-
son or people responsible and
instruct them or their supervi -
sor on how to properly partici -
pate. Have recycling service providers provide you with records of how much material is being removed
and at what cost/savings. Promote success in the program (i.e., waste reduc - tion and cost savings) to managers, subcontrac-
tors, clients, and the public (through the county or
municipal solid waste district). Waste reduction and environmental stewardship make for good
public relations. Even if a recycling and waste reduction program is well planned, success or failure depends upon the sup-
port the program is given by those involved. Here are a few measures to properly support your recycling and
waste reduction program: Contact your local builders association,
the local solid waste management district
or county telephone book pages to obtain
some of this information. A recycling/waste reduction plan is essential for getting every member of the project team on board for a new way of thinking about waste! Multiple signs are often required for con- tainers approachable by several direc- tions 10 10 W aste Reduction and Recycling Methods New Construction & Renovation Projects Between two and seven tons of waste materials are generated during the construction of a new single-family
detached house. The cost alone of disposing this waste ($40-$200 per 20-cubic yard roll-off container at a
C&DD landfill) often makes waste reduction and recycling programs worthwhile. This section will familiarize
builders and renovators with what it takes to develop effective waste reduction and recycling programs and
gives tips to incorporate at the job site. Tips for Waste Reduction and Reuse Design Stage Favor designs using stan - dard sizes (e.g., eight-foot
lengths and 24-inch o.c.
stud spacing). Evaluate plans in relation to efficiency of materials
use (e.g., move the hori-
zontal position of win-
dows, doors, and stair -
wells to coincide with
modular studs). Review floor plans to opti- mize use of subflooring
and sheathing. Specify building tech- niques that incorporate
less materials (e.g., reduce
header sizes and corner
details, and use ladder framing for intersecting
walls. Purchasing Stage Make sure the correct amount of materials is
brought to the site (in large
quantities, some materials
can be specially ordered to
suit custom designs). Work with suppliers to reduce packaging waste
and overruns that come
on-site. Ask suppliers to take back substandard, rejected
items. Purchase good-quality, salvaged items. On-Site Make all wood cuts at a central location or bring
them to a central location
so smaller lengths of lum-
ber needed for cripples,
lintels and blocking are
readily available.
Bridging, blocking and
backframing lumber can
also come from the cut-
offs pile. Consider moving large unused cut-off pieces to
another project site for
reuse. Reuse appliances boxes and other corrugated con-
tainers as storage con-
tainers or as intermediate
waste containers. Waste Reduction & Reuse Methods Waste reduction is the most economical alternative
t o
disposal for any material type. Material reuse is one
common method of waste reduction in which mate-
rials that would normally end up in the garbage are
put to use on the job-site. The tips on the previous
page present several ways to practice waste reduc -
tion and reuse for the waste materials you generate. In addition to using the waste reduction and reuse tips, you may be able to salvage materials from job-
sites. Salvaging items from remodeling projects can
not only save on disposal costs, but may also make
money for the project. See the tips on this page for
targeting materials to salvage. Once you identify
salvageable items, use the Ohio Construction and
Demolition Site Recycling Directory or yellow pages,
or contact your county or local recycling coordina-
tor to find reuse centers and salvage services. For Remodelers 11 11 Recycling Methods Just as many types of materials can be recycled from C&DD,
many methods can be employed at the job-site to recycle these
materials. The most effective method depends upon the size and
conditions of your job-site, and the type of construction or reno-
vation that you are doing. As long as you put proper effort into
planning your recycling program, you should be able to identify
the best method to recover the
target materials for recycling. The main types of recycling
methods used at construction
and renovation sites are the fol -
lowing: Mixed material collection;
Source separation; and,
Time-based separation. Mixed Material Collection is a
method in which a recycling service provider collects target recy-
clable materials in a mixed load. In such a program, you are
required as the waste generator to place the target recyclables
together in one container and the remaining waste in another con-
tainer. The main advantages of mixed material collection are that there is
no need for many separate collection containers, and there is vir -
tually no extra labor required to separate materials. In addition,
less effort is required to educate all of the workers on the site about proper participation in the program and
less time is needed to monitor their perfor-
mance. One disadvantage of mixed material collection
is that it costs extra money to have the recy-
cling service provider separate the materials
off-site. Furthermore, if your mixed recyclables loads contain a large fraction of highly valuable materials (e.g.,
metals and OCC), you may not often realize the value of these
materials. Another disadvantage of multi-material collection is that
by placing materials in the same container, there is a greater like-
lihood that each material may become contaminated by the other
materials. Thus, the value of the materials to the processors
decreases with a mixed system. Source Separation is a method in which each target recyclable
material is separated from the waste stream and placed in its own
container for collection by a recycling service provider(s). This
method requires at least one separate container for each target
material at the site. The main advantage of a successful source separation program is
that it allows you to obtain the best market value for your materi-
als. No further separation is required by the recycling service
provider, thus reducing their costs. In addition, the materials can
be kept cleaner than with other recycling programs, which may Appliances: Store for reuse on
project; donate or sell usable
units; recycle unusable units. Cabinets: Store reusable doors,
drawers and trim for reuse on the
project; donate or sell usable
units; recycle unusable cabinets
with wood and metal if possible. Doors: Salvage reusable doors;
recycle damaged wood and metal
doors if possible. Electrical: Give scrap wire to elec -
trician; recycle remainder with
metal. Framing: Reuse lumber when
possible; recycle remainder with
wood waste. Heating: Recycle ducts and metal
trimming. Insulation: Reuse clean scraps for
chinking windows or filling
around tubs. Millwork: Remove castings and
moldings for reuse; recycle unus-
able with wood if possible. Paint: Use leftover as primer. Plumbing: Remove fixtures for
reuse; recycle metal and PVC, if
possible. Siding: Reuse siding in good con-
dition; recycle damaged wood
and aluminum siding, if possible. Vinyl Flooring: Reuse large
sheets for concrete forming. Windows: Remove and reuse if in
good condition; recycle wood,
glass and aluminum if possible. Wood Flooring: Salvage for reuse Always remember that buying recy- cled-content build- ing materials is an important compo- nent of recycling Mixed Material Collection
Best for job-sites that are limited in space, job-sites that are
widespread, where many subcontractors must be coordinated
for a recycling program, and small sites that do not generate
enough individual materials to warrant a source-separation pro-
gram for each material. Achieves little or not payback for mate-
rials. Source-Separation
Can achieve best payback for materials. Best for job-sites which
have adequate space, dedicated personnel to oversee the recy-
cling program, and enough valuable materials to make a recy-
cling program for each material economical. Time-Based Separation
Effective for builders in almost all conditions where enough
materials are generated to make it economical. Not as effective
for renovators whose waste does not vary much over the life of
the project. Can achieve moderate payback for materials. Not
available in all areas. also reduce their costs. The main disadvantages of source sepa-
ration are that several containers must
be used and additional work is often
required to separate the materials and
place them in their designated contain-
ers. Source-separation programs can be
difficult to maintain if all the workers on
the site are not properly trained as to
what materials go where, and if the pro-
gram is not properly monitored and sup-
ported. Time-Based Separation is a relatively
unique variation on source separation in
which the recycling service provider
concentrates on recovering certain tar-
get recyclable materials from the waste
stream when they are most readily gen-
erated during the life of the project. For
example, such a program will concen-
trate on recovering wood during the
framing stage of construction and OCC
during the finish stage of construction. Most recycling service providers that
offer time-based separation programs
pick out the materials they want and
actually do some pre-processing on-site
(e.g., bale the OCC, grind the wood).
This allows them to help you maintain
flexibility in collection and storage of tar-
get recyclable materials on-site;
although you are still primarily responsi -
ble for separating the target recyclable
materials on the job-site. The main advantage of time-based sepa-
ration programs is that they do not
require all of the separate containers
required in source separation programs,
yet they still recover the individual recy -
clable materials. This is possible
because the containers for specific recy-
clable materials are only placed on the
site when the materials are generated.
Often, no containers are used at all, and
the subcontractors just form piles of
separate recyclable materials at the site
from which the recycling service
provider can collect. The main disadvantage of time-based
separation programs is that they often
require more room on the site for stor-
age of materials and processing equip-
ment, materials and processing equip-
ment. To help control contamination in source-separa- tion and time-based separation programs, replace high-sided, solid wall recycling contain- ers with either low-sided containers or an open- mesh fenced area. These measures help work- ers see what is being placed in the containers or For Choosing Recycling Programs Wood
Clean dimensional lumber and wood pallets are the most recy -
clable type of wood generated from construction sites.
Chemically treated wood is difficult to market because it can
contaminate the process end-products. Manufactured wood
products and wood shingles are not as marketable due to their
adhesives. Check with your recycling service provider to see
what types of wood they can take. Metals
Aluminum, copper, and brass all have a higher market value
than steel. If these metals are mixed in with steel, the market
price for them becomes lower. If these materials can be sepa-
rated and marketed individually, they can achieve a higher mar-
ket value. O C C
OCC is usually the most marketable material generated from
construction sites. Most OCC recyclers do not accept wax
coated OCC or non-paper packaging materials. Plastic
PVC piping, vinyl siding, and polystyrene packaging may be
marketed if they are clean and generated in fairly large quanti-
ties. Plastic film is difficult to market because of the many dif -
ferent types of plastic used to make various grades of plastic
film. Glass
Plate glass and glass from light bulbs are difficult to market.
These types of glass cannot be processed with glass jars and
bottles. However, plate glass can often be reused and some
recycling markets exist to process the glass into fiberglass, 12 12 For Choosing Target Recyclables Because many valuable materials
often remain in a building sched -
uled for demolition, there are
many avenues for demolition con -
tractors to choose from to recov-
er and reuse these materials.
First, you can reuse certain mate-
rials for building renovation or in
a new building(s) that is to be
erected in the place of the demol -
ished building. Second, you can
remove salvageable materials
from the building yourself and
sell or provide them to material reuse centers.
Finally, you can contract with an on-site salvaging
company to remove the salvageable materials. Reuse of Materials in Building Renovation is appeal-
ing because some of the decorative facets of the
old building can be incorporated into the new one.
This often applies to commercial buildings where
decorative or historically significant structures are
removed or renovated to make way for larger, more
modern facilities. When materials are reused for later construction,
the demolition contractor, the owner of the site, the
owner of the new building, the architects for the
new building, and the construction general contrac-
tor must all work together. Salvaged materials can
be purchased by the new building owner or includ-
ed in the demolition contract. Reused structural
materials must be included in the architectural
specifications. In addition, the construction general
contractor must be made familiar with these materi -
als and their appropriate use. Removal and Resale of Materials is a good option
for any demolition project. Staff and additional
laborers can be used to remove valuable materials
from the building. You should be careful to ensure that the materials are not damaged as
they are removed and stored on-site.
Transport materials to reuse centers or
schedule reuse centers to pick up
materials as soon as they are removed
to minimize damage. In addition, prop-
erly number more intricate pieces, such
as tile floors, ceilings, and trim work so
they can be put back together later.
This step will add value to the material. Use of On-Site Salvage Services is also
a good option for most demolition pro - jects. One type of on-site salvaging service will pro-
vide its own labor force to pull the materials out.
For this type of service, you should estimate the
value of the materials and negotiate a price to
charge the service for the materials. Another type of
service opens the building
for public auction of the
materials. With this ser -
vice, the buyers of the
materials are responsible
for removing them from
the building. You receive
the profit from the auction,
and pay a fee to the auc -
tioning company for their service. Due to liability requirements for demolition contrac-
tors, it is often not feasible to have a third-party on-
site during demolition. If liability is a large concern,
you may not want to contract for salvaging ser-
vices. In such a case, the decision of whether or not
to salvage materials from a building must be done
by the owner/manager of the building. You can have
your estimators provide information to the building
owner/manager about salvaging options. In any
case, salvage of materials prior to demolition may
save you money in avoided disposal costs. Demolition Projects Demolition contractors have a greater potential than almost all other industries to
reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills. The demolition of one house can
create as much as 50-100 tons of waste. Demolition of a commercial building can cre-
ate thousands of tons of waste. Most often, a large majority of that waste is reusable
or recyclable. Some of the reusable or recyclable materials include concrete, metals, wood, brick, architectural artifacts, and industrial process equipment. For demolition
contractors who already have effective recycling and waste reduction programs, the
reuse and recycling of these materials can represent 20-50 percent of their revenues. This section presents information that may help demolition contractors develop more
effective waste reduction and recycling programs and gives tips to incorporate at the
job-site. The demolition of one house can create as much as 50-100 tons of waste! Reuse Methods In many cases, sal- vaging should be done by a third party opera- tor prior to demolition. This limits the liability requirements on the demolition contractors Estimators can often suggest salvaging options to owners/managers 13 13 Recycling Methods 14 14 As mentioned previously, the potential to recycle
materials from demolition waste is
great. However, recycling pro-
grams for demolition waste have
limitations because of contamina-
tion problems inherent with these
materials. The recycling methods
available to demolition contractors
consist of: mixed material collection;
source separation; and,
on-site processing. Mixed Material Collection is a
method in which a recycling service provider col -
lects target recyclable materials in a mixed load. In
such a program all you are required to do, as the
waste generator, is segregate the target recyclables
from the waste stream. You do not need to separate
the target materials into each individual material type. Because of the contamination prob-
lems associated with demolition waste, there is virtually no market for completely mixed recyclable demolition debris materials in Ohio.
However, markets do exist for some
mixtures of materials, such as con-
crete with rebar, wood with nails,
mixed metals, and miscellaneous rub-
ble. Most of these mixtures still
require a good degree of effort in sep-
aration before they become mar-
ketable. Source Separation is a method in which each target
recyclable material is separated from the waste
stream and segregated for collection by a recycling
service provider(s). This method requires at least
one separate container or designated storage area
for each target recyclable material at the site. Wood
Most wood in demolition waste is difficult to recy -
cle because of coatings, paint, and other contami -
nants attached to it. Clean timbers from wood
frame buildings and wood shingles are the best
recycling candidates. However, finished wood
and structural timbers are some of the most
sought after materials by salvagers. In addition,
this wood can be reused in new construction to
preserve some of the style of the old building. Concrete
Concrete is almost always recyclable from demoli-
tion waste (even with rebar). For large concrete
structures, portable crushers can be brought on-
site and concrete can be crushed into aggregate
for use as backfill. Metals
All metals are recyclable, especially if they are
clean. Aluminum siding may be difficult to recy -
cle depending on its condition. More valuable
metals, such as copper, brass, and stainless steel,
should be stripped out prior to demolition. Metal
trimwork and ceilings have a good market value when salvaged. Brick
Bricks can be cleaned and salvaged. Good mar -
kets for bricks exist in the southern United States.
Broken bricks can be crushed for use as aggre-
gate. Glass
Plate glass and glass from light bulbs are difficult
to market. These types of glass cannot be
processed with glass jars and bottles. However,
windows and mirrors can often be salvaged. Carpet
Carpet in good condition can be salvaged and
resold. Carpet padding can be recycled. Fixtures
Sinks, bathtubs, tiles, bath fixtures, and other fix-
tures can be salvaged and resold or warehoused
for alter use in new construction or renovations.
Broken pieces of ceramics can be recycled with
rubble to form aggregate for road base and fill
material. For Choosing Target Salvage Materials and Recyclables 15 15 Because of the lack of markets for mixed recy-
clable demolition debris materials, source separa-
tion is usually the method of choice for demolition
contractors in this area. Source separation can be staged to recover certain materials as they are removed
from a building. This is especially true for renovation projects. For example, if walls
are to be torn out, the recycling program can be set up to first collect the structural
material (i.e., wood, drywall, or concrete). Once the structural components are removed, you can gear
the recycling program toward collecting the piping and duct work. On-Site Processing is a third option for large demolition projects. On-site processing is a method in
which a recycling service provider brings processing equipment to the demolition site. There the mate-
rials are processed and made ready for markets. A portable crusher can be brought on-site to crush inert materials (e.g., concrete, miscellaneous bro-
ken bricks, rock, and dirt). The crushed materials can then be used as aggregate for backfill or base
materials for parking lots or driveways on the site. Alternatively, you may be able to sell or donate the
crushed materials to neighboring construction sites for a similar purpose, thus saving money for both
parties. On-site processing is used extensively in the
transportation industry for recycling roadwork debris. Tear-out of furniture and fixtures, and demolition
of
interior bathroom walls at a 57 unit dormitory. Robinette Demolition, Inc., Chicago, Illinois Robinette recycled concrete block,ceramic tile,
steel piping, copper piping, and miscellaneous
steel scrap from the job. Through their recycling efforts, Robinette was
able to save approximately $9,000 on the job
from avoided disposal costs and the amounts
paid for the recyclable materials. It is estimated that Robinette could have saved
$875-950 in disposal costs if they could have
convinced the school to salvage the wooden fur-
niture, mirrors, sinks, and toilets torn out of the
rooms. Project Description Prime Contractor Waste Reduction Efforts Cost Savings Additional Waste Reduction Possibilities Estimators can often suggest
salvaging options to building owners/mangers. Where Does it All Go? The Road to Being Recycled Once you have established a recycling program at your site and are reducing the amount of waste that is being disposed, you may wonder, "Where is all of this material going?" End-markets are the components in the recycling process that
actually drive recycling programs. Without end-markets, recy -
clable materials would never get processed into new products,
and would end up in a landfill. Recycled-content material end-
markets vary for different types of recyclable materials. The fol -
lowing is a list of some of the local end-markets for the materials End Markets that you may be recycling at your job-site.
Wood wood fuel
mulch
bulking agents for composting
manufactured wood products
alternative wood fiber-based materials (e.g., particle board, door panels for cars, cement additives) Concrete road base
fill material
aggregate for new ready-mix
lime for neutralizing agent
rip-rap for harbors Asphalt Pavement asphalt patch for roads (cold mix)
on-site processing into hot mix for roads road base or fill material O C C paper fiber feedstock Metals reuse by salvagers
various metal feedstocks Glass reuse of windows and mirrors
inert granular material additive
fiberglass
reflective beads
asphalt Drywall soil amendment (gypsum)
cement additive (gypsum)
new drywall (gypsum)
paper fiber feedstock (paper)
animal bedding (paper) Asphalt Roofing asphalt patch for roads Rubble aggregate for fill or road base
construction entrance roads
drainage bed material
landfill cover material 16 16 End markets are what drive recycling programs! these references is provided here: Environmental Building News
122 Birge St., Suite 301
Brattleboro, VT 05301
Ph: (802) 257-7300
info@ebuild.com
Website: www.ebuild.com National Recycling Coalition, Inc. 1727 King Street, Suite 105
Alexandria, VA 22314-2720
Ph: (703) 683-9025 Website: www.nrc-recycle.org American Recycling Markets,Inc. P.O. Box 577
Ogdensburg, NY 13669
Ph: (800) 267-0707 Website: www.recyclingdata.com Iris Communications, Inc. P.O. Box 5920
Eugene, OR 97405-0911
Ph. (800) 346-0104
Website: www.oikos.com Center for Resourceful Building Technology
P.O. Box 100
Missoula, MT 59806
Ph: (406) 549-7678 Website: www.crbt.org Alemeda County Recycling Board
777 Davis Street
Suite 200
San Leandro, CA 94577
Ph: (510) 639-2498
Website: www.stopwaste.org Buy Recycled! 17 17 In order for recycling to work, contractors must
make an effort to purchase products that contain
recovered material (i.e., support the end-markets in
this area). If the recycled-content materials are not
purchased, the markets will diminish and there will
be fewer outlets for the materials that you recycle at
your job-site. Several good references exist to help you find recy-
cled-content building materials. A partial list of Environmental Building News Buy Recycled Guidebook for the Commercial
Construction Industry Official Recycled Product Guide (RPG) Guide to Resource Efficient Building Elements Green Spec There are several good refer -
ences available to help you
find recycled-content build-
ing materials! This appendix features a recycling economics worksheet designed to help you assess the costs associated
with a recycling program. The first section of this worksheet will help you detail the quantity and composition
of materials found in your job-site's waste stream. The second portion will allow you to evaluate the costs
associated with recycling programs for the target materials. To estimate the volume of each material generat-
ed on-site and the volume of the entire waste stream, complete the tables below. For construction activities,
these tables should be completed at least three different times during the building phase (i.e., at the begin-
ning, in the middle, and toward the end). Construction waste varies over time, therefore the accuracy of your Appendix A Recycling Economics Recyclable Material Volumes Material Type Percentage of Waste (by Volume) Average Size of Waste Containers* (cubic yards) Number of Containers On-Site Number of Container Pulls per Month Volume of Material Generated per Month Wood % c y Drywall % c y Steel % c y Other Metals % c y O C C % c y Roofing Materials % X X X = c y Concrete % c y Asphalt % c y PVC Plastics % c y Glass % c y Carpet Waste % c y Total * For demolition jobs, estimate based on the number of containers generated per job. Total Waste Volume Size of Waste Containers Cubic Yards Number of Waste Containers Number of Container Pulls Per Month Total Volume of Waste Generated
per Month Total Waste X X = 18 18 19 19 To estimate the costs associated with recycling programs for each of your target recyclable materials, com-
plete the tables below. Estimate Costs Associated with Recycling Programs Calculate current disposal costs Determine the additional labor
costs for recycling your target materials. Determine the cost to have your
recyclables collected from the site or transported to a drop-off
center. Determine the revenue gained from your recyclables Calculate the savings you may
achieve in avoided disposal
costs. 3-4+5= cost or savings of recy- cling programs for each target
material. 1 2 3 4 5 Net Cost/Benefit Total Waste Disposal Cost Number of Waste Containers Number of Container Pulls per Month Cost per Container Pull Total Cost per Month for Disposal Total Waste X X $ = $ Additional Labor Costs Number of Hours per month Average Labor Rate ($/hr) Cost Per Month Additional Labor for Sorting X $ = $ Additional Labor for Transportation X $ = $ Monitoring and Education X $ = $ 1 2 Service Fee/Material Revenue Service Fee
+ Transport Costs ($/mo.) Material Revenue ($/Mo.) Percentage of Waste (by volume) Wood $ $ % $ $ Drywal l$ $ % $ $ Steel $ $ % $ $ Othe Metals $ $ % $ $ O C C $ $ % $ $ Roofing Materials $ $ % X $ X$ = $ $ Concrete $ $ % X $ X$ = $ $ Asphalt $ $ % $ $ PVC Plastics $ $ % $ $ Glass $ $ % $ $ Carpet Waste $ $ % $ $ Material Type Total Labor Costs ($/Mo.) Waste Disposal Costs ($/Mo.) Waste Diversion Savings Net Cost/ Benefit (3-4-6) 3 4 2 Total 1 3 $ $ In order to encourage waste reduction and recy-
cling practices, engineers and architects can devel-
op pertinent language to include in their specifica-
tions. Recycling and waste reduction specifications
communicate to prospective bidders that the pro -
ject will not involve the traditional waste manage-
ment practices of the past. Language can be used
to address: 1) waste reduction techniques to use
during specific phases of construction; 2) material
reuse techniques to employ for specific operations;
3) salvage of specific components; 4) return of
unused portions of materials to vendors; and, 5)
recycling programs for specific materials. Bidders
may also be asked to develop a waste management
plan and a cost estimate. Several advantages are associated with waste
reduction and recycling specifications. For bidders,
these specifications can eliminate concerns that
they may be at a competitive disadvantage if they
choose to recycle or practice other waste reduction
techniques at the job. The specs can be developed
so that the contractor makes a waste management
plan and cost estimate for recycling after being
selected as the builder on the project. In this man-
ner, it is up to the owner to choose whether to go
ahead with the plan if it is more costly, and the cost
burden does not fall on the contractor. Another advantage of waste reduction and recy - cling specifications is that they clearly identify what
types of measures are to be instituted at the job-
site. This helps eliminate any confusion about
which materials are target recyclables and which
waste reduction techniques are to be employed. If
pertinent language is tailored to all 16 divisions of
the CSI format system for specifications, subcon-
tractors would realize that they are required to be
involved in the designated waste reduction and
recycling programs along with the general contrac -
tor. When developing language within the specifications
that addresses waste reduction and recycling,
specifiers should be conscious of a few key con -
cerns: Additional reporting requirements usually con - stitute additional costs; Adequate markets must exist for materials tar- geted for recycling; Conditions vary on each project so language must be customized to fit the project; Aadequate time must be set aside for discus- sions with bidders if specifications require them
to submit recycling alternatives; and, 20 20 Appendix B W aste Reduction & Recycling Specifications Available Publications All specifications must be in compliance with local and state waste management regulations
(e.g., some recyclable or salvageable compo-
nents may have handling and disposal restric-
tions). The following publications are available tot help in
the development of waste reduction and recycling
specifications: Waste Spec, Model Specifications for Construction
Waste Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling Triangle J Council of Governments
P.O. Box 12276
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Ph: (919) 558-9343
Website: www.tjcog.dist.nc/cdwaste html#wastespec Construction Materials Recycling Guidebook Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance Education Clearinghouse
520 Lafayette Rd. North, 2nd Floor
St. Paul, MN 55155-4100
Ph: (800) 877-6300
Website: www.moea.state.mn.us Green Spec Alemeda County Waste Management Authority
777 Davis St., Suite 200
San Leandro, CA 94577
Ph: (510) 614-1699
Website: www.stopwaste.org Bid and Contract Specifications for the King County
Regional Justice CenterProject King County Solid Waste Division Source for this guidebook is Illinois, Construction and Demolition Site Recycling Guidebook, 1997, Illinois
Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. The following is a list of references that have been used to create this guidebook and can be consulted if
you have further questions about waste reduction and recycling programs for C&DD. Refer to Ohio's Construction and Demolition Recycling Directory for C&DD recyclers in your area. 400 Yesler Way, Room 600
Seattle, WA 98104
Ph: (206) 296-4407
Website: www.metrokc.gov/dnr/swd Cosper, S.D., W.H. Hallenbeck, and G.R.
Brenniman, January 1993, Construction and
Demolition Waste, University of Illinois at
Chicago, Public Service Report, OSWM-12. Donnelly, Chris, February/March 1995,
"Construction waste," Fine Homebuilding, pp. 70- 75. Innovative Waste Management, March 1993,
Construction Materials Recycling Guidebook,
Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities Area,
Minnesota. McGregor, M., H. Washburn, and D. Palermini,
July 1993, Characterization of Construction Site Waste, METRO Solid Waste Department,
Portland, Oregon. METRO Portland, June 1994, Construction Site Recycling, guidebook. Metro Waste Authority, Des Moines, Iowa, 1995,
Construction and Demolition Guide Book. National Association of Home Builders Research
Center, April 1995, Residential Construction
Waste: From Disposal to Management, interim
document. REIC Consulting Ltd., 1991, Making a Molehill Out of a Mountain II, Greater Toronto Home Builders
Association. Solid Waste Management Association of North
America, October 1993 Construction Waste and SUMMARY: ALTERNATE BIDS A. It is intended that references in the Bid Forms to "Waste Management/Recycling Alternate Bid"
shall refer directly to this Section. Information
included is provided for the use of the bidders in
completing their Bid Proposals and will not be
repeated on the Bid Forms. SCHEDULE OF ALTERNATES A. For each Waste Management/Recycling Alternate proposed, describe the recommended
method for proper disposal of materials to be
recycled or disposed of included in the Waste
Management/ Recycling Alternate. B. For each Waste Management/Recycling Alternate proposed, provide a waste manage-
ment plan with the bid. C. For each Waste Management /Recycling Alternate proposed, describe waste manage-
ment requirements. Requirements for perfor-
mance, appearance, workmanship, and materi-
als not modified under the Alternate Bids shall
conform to Drawings and Specifications, except
as exceeded by Code. PART 2 - PRODUCTS Not Used. PART 3 - EXECUTION Not Used. (excerpted from Waste Spec, Triangle J Council of Governments, 1995) 21 21 Appendix C References & Information Sources Sample Specifications for Recycling Programs Part 1 - General Section 01031 Waste Management/Recycling Alternatives Demolition Debris Recycling... A Primer, GR-REC
300. Yost, E. and E. Lund, Residential Construction Waste Management - A Builder's Field Guide, National
Association of Home Builders Research Center. Project Description:
Five custom builders and one production builder
agreed to participate in a pilot project. Job site grinding using a portable shredder to process the clean wood, drywall, and cardboard
components of the waste stream. Study conducted in Indianapolis in 1998 to eval - uate the feasibility of processing and managing
certain waste materials on a new construction
site.The primary use for the processed material
was intended to be the construction site on
which the debris was generated. The pilot
intended to determine the feasibility of using
the material on-site, thereby eliminating trans -
portation. Project Management: Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis
(BAGI) Current Waste Disposal: It is estimated that residential construction gen-
erates roughly 4 tons of waste per house. The residential construction waste stream* Material Weight Volume Wood 42% 24% Drywall 26% 11% Cardboard 4% 38% Other 28% 27% Total 100% 100% *Based on waste assessments conducted by the NAGB
Research Center in 1995. Technical Feasibility: Grinder through put:
Approximately 10 cubic yards per hour for wood
and slightly higher for drywall and cardboard. Volume reduction:
Wood volume was reduced approximately 50 per-
cent, drywall approximately 60 percent. Particle size:
80 percent of the processed wood was less than
2 inches in size, remaining 20 percent ranging up
to 6 inches. Gypsum wallboard essentially
processed into dust. Economic Feasibility: Cost of grinding service for production and cus-
tom builders estimated at: $780/house Cost of grinding service for production builders
only estimated at: $660/house Cost of conventional landfilling with roll-off
trucks and dumpster estimated at: $840/house* * Savings largely due to avoided disposal costs. Estimated annual machine cost of the grinder
(based on 1,000 hours of operation) is $17.00 per
hour, excluding labor costs. The cost for routine
maintenance and fuel (per 1,000 hours of opera-
tion) is estimated at $3,578.00. Overall economic feasibility: The grinding service was more than cost-com-
petitive with conventional landfilling given the
project conditions: moderately high tipping
fees, modest labor rates and low transportation
costs. 22 22 Appendix D Construction/Demolition Project Residential Construction Project

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