Page 369 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach

CONSTRAINTS AND CONSIDERATIONS 347

24.4 Constraints and Considerations

Construction and demolition activities generate very large quantities of solid waste.
The EPA estimates that 136 million tons of construction and demolition waste was
generated in 1996. Recycling opportunities are expanding in many communities.
Metal, vegetation, concrete, and asphalt recycling have long been available and eco-
nomically justified in most communities. Paper, cardboard, plastics, and clean wood
markets vary by regional and local recycling infrastructure. Some materials, such as
gypsum wallboard, have recycling opportunities only in communities where repro-
cessing plants exist or where soil can handle the material as a stabilizing agent.
The recyclability of demolished materials is often dependant on the amount of con-
tamination attached to it. Demolished wood, for instance, is often not reusable or recy-
clable unless it is deconstructed and the nails are removed.
Another consideration is that recycling of construction and demolition debris
reduces demand for virgin resources, and in turn, reduced the environmental impacts
associated with resource extraction, processing, and in many cases transportation.
Through effective construction waste management, it is possible to extend the lifetime
of existing landfills, avoiding the need for expansion or new landfills sites. The bene-
fits of a construction and demolition recycling program include

■ Avoid trash collection and disposal fees—To avoid the high cost of disposal, a con-
struction or demolition company can reduce the amount of waste produced during
a project by reusing and recycling waste materials.
■ Save resources and money through deconstruction—Deconstruction is an expres-
sion describing the process of selective dismantling or removal of materials from
buildings before or instead of demolition. Reuse and recycling examples include
electrical and plumbing fixtures that are reused; steel, copper, and lumber that are
reused or recycled; wood flooring that is remilled; and doors and windows that are
refinished for use in new construction. Also, by donating reusable excess construc-
tion and demolition debris, a business not only helps to keep reusable material out
of landfills and incinerators, but can also help to reduce costs for future projects.
■ Improve your organization’s public image—By using fewer resources and reducing
the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, a company can enhance its
image in the community and with its customers.
■ Make new products from old materials—Six major constituents of construction and
demolition debris, including concrete, asphalt, metals, and wood, and to a much
lesser degree, gypsum wallboard and asphalt shingles, have all been recovered and
processed into recycled content products and successfully marketed in the United
States.
■ Improve the market for recycled content products—Because of the effort being
exerted to develop markets for recovered materials, the numbers of construction and
demolition facilities are continuing to grow. It was recently estimated by C&D
Debris Recycling magazine that there are now more than 3500 construction and
demolition debris recycling facilities in operation throughout the United States.