Reduce, Recycle and Reuse

Construction waste recycling is the separation and recycling of recoverable materials generated during construction, remodeling and demolition of a building. This is now implemented more than ever at job sites due to various economic and environmental factors.

An increase in residential and commercial construction during recent years has invariably increased the amount of waste generated from construction. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that approximately 136 million tons of construction and demolition (C&D) debris was generated in 1996. While forty-three percent is attributed to residential sources, the majority of waste is from non-residential sources. The EPA assesses that 20 - 30% of this waste was reused or recycled during that same year.

In the past two decades, landfill management has become much more sophisticated, and therefore more costly in certain areas, sometimes making it advantageous for builders to evaluate other waste disposal options. According to a 1995 survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the average cost of waste removal is $500 per residential construction site. This creates an incentive for builders to either decrease their waste or find the most cost effective waste disposal option.

One of the most efficient methods of reducing waste at the jobsite is to decrease the amount of lumber needed to construct a building. Wood, cardboard and drywall can account for over 60% of waste generated. Making small changes in design and construction of a building can add up. Techniques that may be implemented include in-line framing spaced at 24"o.c., increased spacing of floor joists from 16" to 24" or reduced header sizes. The savings realized by using just these three methods amounted to over $1800 in a case study conducted by NAHB Research Center on residential construction.

Utilizing alternative building system materials, such as ICFs and SIPs, that combine the structural framing and the insulation of the building can also result in significant savings. These products are usually pre-cut at the point of manufacture to insure ease of installation and the elimination of excess material at the jobsite. In a study conducted by the University of Central Florida on the construction costs of foam core panels, it found that foam construction uses 50% less lumber than stick frame. It also indicated that using panels saves approximately 2.5 acre-years' growth of older growth forests.

Recycling construction waste is often a viable and cost-effective alternative, but it relies on proper planning before construction begins. This includes specifiying materials that are recyclable, developing a separation and sorting policy and establishing arrangements for delivery and/or drop-offs.

The availability of C&D recycling facilities has increased in number over the past few years. C&D Debris Recycling magazine estimates that in 1998 there were as many as 3,500 actively operating in the US. The majority, 28%, is located in the Western States.

Recycling potential waste is not the only option available. Buying recycled content products closes the recycling loop and makes efforts complete. President Clinton issued Executive Order 13101, "Environmentally Preferable Purchasing" or EPP, it is defined as "products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose". There are guidelines established to help the federal government in purchasing environmentally friendly services and products, primarily those with recycled content. The EPA has several publications identifying the various products available and they are adding new items on a daily basis.

Several companies within the EPS industry are customizing their programs and developing relationships to utilize otherwise waste material. Raypac Corp. has been working in conjunction with Polyfoam Packers Corporation of Waukegan, IL., to devise a unique recycling process in which they convert the scrap materials from block molding operations back into polystyrene beads. The process is a natural extension of the extrusion process they use to make loosefill peanuts for packaging applications.

To help facilitate these "green" practices, a number of building code requirements have approved some recycled or recovered materials. Most notably AC 12, "Acceptance Criteria for Foam Plastic Insulation" under ICBO states that recycled or recovered materials are recognized when they meet the requirements of the acceptance criteria established for virgin foam plastic insulation.

There are additional resources available to the residential contractor to help them identify what type of recycling and recovery methods would be most cost effective for them. Due to availability of local outlet centers and other logistical elements, each case can be different. The National Association of Home Builders Research Center publishes the Residential Construction Waste Management: A Builder's Field Guide that helps the builder to evaluate various options as well as profiles several short real world operations.

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