Steps toward Zero Waste for Contractors and Builders, Part 2

January 29, 2013

This article continues our blog series on laying out a "roadmap" for builders and contractors on moving towards zero waste for construction and demolition projects. Zero waste is a path that can lead to savings and profit. Zero waste does not actually mean "zero waste," as some think. Instead it is a goal and en route to that goal, great change and value can be achieved. And, contractors can realize cost reductions by following this path. Zero waste in construction and remodeling projects focuses on looking for opportunities:

• Generating less waste by using materials more efficiently – saves money;
• Reusing materials on site, or selling or donating them to someone else for reuse – cost containment, potential revenues or tax benefits; and
• Recycling whenever possible – might save you money and could even bring in revenue.

Zero waste in construction and remodeling is a win-win proposition, and not as hard to do as you might think.

Materials to be Reused & Recycled

The Plan should list the specific materials that you intend to reuse or recycle. The first step is to understand which materials have reuse or recycling potential and knowing which of these will be part of your project.

Following are suggestions of items that often have reuse and recycling potential.

Reuse

Many of the materials used on a construction site, and that might have traditionally been handled as waste, can instead be reused; either re-purposed onsite, donated, or sold.

Asphalt shingles

• Left over bundled asphalt shingles can be donated to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.

Fixtures

• Cabinets, light fixtures, bathtubs, sinks, mortar mix, hardware, nails, screws and plumbing fittings and supplies are all accepted by Habitat for Humanity.

Insulation

• Install left-over insulation in interior wall cavities or on top of installed attic insulation if it cannot be used on another job.

Lumber/wood

• Set aside lumber and plywood/OSB cut-offs to be used later as fire blocking, spacers in header construction, etc.
• Save small wood scraps to use as kindling for clients or crew members (no plywood or treated wood).
• Larger pieces of leftover lumber (6 feet or more) may be able to be donated to Habitat for Humanity.
• Save clean sawdust for use in compost piles or around gardens. Avoid sawdust that might contain painted or treated wood. This should be bagged separately and handled as trash.
• Long pieces of dimension lumber can be used as nailing material; shorter pieces can be used for blocking and furring strips.
• Check with industrial arts departments and tech schools to see if scrap lumber would be useful for their class projects. Also check with the theater departments (stage set construction).

Masonry

• Salvage usable bricks, blocks, slate shingles, tile and other masonry materials from remodeling and construction. Store for future jobs or divert to salvage operations.
• Check to see if your masonry supplier will accept the return of materials in good condition.
• Good quality used concrete (also known as urbanite) can be used as brick or block for landscaping walls or foundations for small buildings.

Metal

• During remodeling, separate metal radiators, grates, piping, aluminum siding, and old appliances for salvage or recycling.
• During construction, separate metals for recycling, including copper piping, wire and flashing; aluminum siding, flashing and guttering; iron and steel banding from bundles, nails and fasteners, galvanized flashing and roofing, and rebar; and lead chimney flashing.

Paint, stain, solvents, sealants

• Donate unused portions that are in good condition to Habitat for Humanity, or save for your next job.

Keep in mind that some building codes prevent the use of used materials (i.e. reused studs) as structural members. Non-structural materials such as trim or siding are rarely regulated. Be sure to check with the local building inspector.

Recycling

Materials that cannot be reused, very likely can be recycled. And keep in mind that recyclable materials are not only generated through the construction process, but also by employees.

Following are examples of materials that are readily recycled in most areas:

• Appliances and fixtures (bathroom fixtures, hardware, windows, doors, plumbing, insulation, used appliances, white goods, etc.)
• Asphalt shingles
• Batteries (including rechargeable tools)
• Bottles and cans (glass, plastic, metal)
• Brush and trees (yard and landscaping waste)
• Buckets (5-gallon)
• Cardboard and paper (must be kept dry)
• Ceiling tiles
• Clean wood cut-offs, flooring, trim, pallets
• Lumber and plywood (without nails)
• Metals (copper tubing, insulated copper and aluminum wires, copper bus bar, brass water meters, brass pipe, aluminum & brass scrap, brass faucets, paint cans, rebar, all other scrap metals)
• Pallets (plastic and wood)
• Plastic film/sheeting
• Plastic bags
• Windows and doors
• Yard debris, such as branches and trees (or use a chipper on site to create landscaping mulch)

Harder to recycle because opportunities are not as widely available, but may be available in your area, include:

• Carpet
• Masonry
• Painted/treated wood
• Wallboard - unpainted

Identifying Reuse & Recycling Opportunities

Learning about reuse and recycling opportunities are by their nature local questions. Recycling markets, processors, and reuse outlets vary depending on where you are.

A good starting point to learn about what is available in your area is to speak with your solid waste hauler—or contact haulers you have not worked with before to find out about additional services and cost saving opportunities. In addition, a call to the municipal recycling coordinator may help you identify C&D recycling and reuse opportunities.

Other suggestions include:

• Contact local salvage companies and stores that buy and sell used and surplus C&D. These resources can be found in the phone book or by searching the Internet. See also the resource list for a directory of ReStores.
• Post reusable items on materials exchange websites. The Reuse Marketplace is a free regional materials exchange service for businesses in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
• Additional materials exchange reuse opportunities for building materials can be found in a comprehensive online resource Materials Exchanges in the Northeast.

Several resources exist online that can direct you to outlets for specific materials. These include:

• Asphalt shingles (http://www.shinglerecycling.org/content/find-recycler );
• Ceiling tiles (www.armstrong.com/common/c2002/content/files/15976.pdf);
• Carpet (https://www.carpetrecovery.org/collector-finder/index.html);
• Wallboard (http://www.wallboardrecycling.org/links.html); and
• Rechargeable batteries (www.call2recycle.org/locator).

There are also general resources, such as the Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA) maintains a "finder a recycler" feature on its website (http://www.cdrecycling.org/find.html) and the Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) (http://www.bmra.org) includes a reuse outlet search feature.

Estimating What Will Be Reused or Recycled

Estimating the weight and/or volume of specific material streams that will be generated from the project will help guide your waste reduction decisions, and will be essential for the next step in the planning process; calculating the costs and savings. In particular, develop estimates for each reusable, salvageable, and/or recyclable material and begin the process of deciding how you will manage the material: reuse onsite, resale, recycling, or disposal.

For remodeling or deconstruction jobs, start by conducting a walk-through to inventory materials in the building. This can be done with a deconstruction crew if one is brought in or if you're planning to sell materials pulled out of the project to a salvage company, have them come along on the walk-through.

Consider potential onsite uses and resale or donation options when inventorying reusable items. If remodeling is the goal, consider options for repairing or reusing items in place, such as gypsum wallboard. Identify items that can be removed with little damage, such as those attached with mechanical fasteners instead of glue. Items with unique or antique features are desirable, as are materials or items that are fairly new and in good condition to be easily reused. And, of course, scrap metal is always an important by-product. Copper tubing and wiring, and aluminum can generally be sold. Even old radiators can have value.

As you develop the inventory, you may find that you readily know who to work with to reuse or recycle the materials, but in other cases you will not have established relationships. In these cases, researching the opportunities in your area becomes important. Refer to the previous section, as well as the resource section of this document, for suggestions about how to find markets for the materials.

In addition to the materials that will be used to complete the job, and/or removed, there will be packaging and other waste generated that can be recycled. High volume materials include cardboard and pallets. Lower volume, but readily recyclable, are bottles, cans, and plastic bags from the crew.

There are certain materials that should not be recycled or reused because of their hazardous characteristics. These materials require special handling and attention to appropriate disposal.

NERC's new Moving towards Zero Waste & Cost Savings –A Roadmap for Builders & Contractors for Construction & Demolition Projects provides more details on the steps toward "zero waste."