Characterization & Management of Construction, Renovation & Demolition

Waste in Canada

2014 Recycling Council of Alberta Conference Lake Louise, Alberta 1-3 October 2014

Co-presented by:

Guy Perry

Michael VanderPol Waste Reduction & Management Division

Presentation Overview

•  Rationale  for  Engagement  •  Study  Objectives  •  Research  Team  •  Scope  &  Definitions  •  Methodology  &  Limitations  •  Preliminary  Findings  •  Next  Steps  

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Rationale for Engagement on CRD waste

•  Sizeable  portion  of  solid  waste  in  Canada  (~16%  or  4  million  tonnes/year)  

•  Some  is  recycled  but  most  is  disposed  (mainly  at  landfills)  

•  Environment  Canada  is  examining  links  to  certain  substances  of  interest:    

–  Canadian  Environmental  Protection  Act,  Schedule  1  toxic  substances  

–  Substances  under  the  Government  of  Canada’s  Chemicals  Management  Plan  

–  Chemicals  of  Interest  to  the  International  Community  (e.g.  UN  Basel  Convention)    

•  Some  of  these  substances  could  present  risks  if  improperly  managed  

•  CCME  also  recently  committed  to  work  on  CRD  waste  diversion  

•  Need  to  gather  &  consolidate  knowledge  

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Study Objectives

1.  To  estimate  how  much  CRD  waste  is  generated,  recycled  &  disposed  in  Canada  &  from  which  sources  

2.  To  confirm  the  presence  of  certain  substances  of  interest  in  CRD  waste  &  their  potential  release  pathways  to  the  environment  

3.  To  identify  current  approaches  and  best  practices  for  managing  CRD  waste  in  Canada  &  elsewhere  

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Research Team

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Maria Kelleher Principal

Guy Perry Principal

Christina Seidel Principal

Janet Robins Principal

Dr. Brajesh Dubey Assistant Professor School of Engineering

Dr. Mark Gorgolewski Professor Dept. of Architectural Science

Samantha Millette Consultant

Study Scope & Definitions

•  Use  current  available  information  to  characterize  &  describe  the  management  of  CRD  waste  

•  Examine  both  residential  &  non-­‐residential  sources  

•  Consider  all  waste  materials  from  which  CRD  waste  is  composed                                            (excluding  waste  from  land  clearing  operations,  e.g.  stumps,  brush  &  soil)  

•  Define  CRD  waste  broadly,  unrestricted  by  legal  interpretations                          (e.g.  for  hazardous  waste,  special  waste  or  non-­‐hazardous  waste)  

–  Construction  waste:        derived  from  building  new  structures  

–  Renovation  waste:              derived  from  improvements  &  repairs  to  existing  structures  

–  Demolition  waste:              derived  from  demolishing  existing  structures  

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Methodology: Characterization of CRD Waste

•  Used  publically  available  reports  &  studies  

Start with: Quantities CRD Waste Generated, Recycled & Disposed by Province

Statistics Canada Waste Management Industry Survey 2010

Allocate to: Residential vs. Non-residential – building permits

Allocate to: Construction, Renovation, Demolition – composition studies

Allocate to: Composition – selected materials – composition studies

•  Results  represent  a  snapshot  in  time   7

Total Quantities of CRD Waste Estimated  CRD  waste  generated  in  Canada:  4,007,000  tonnes  

Excludes:  •  waste  from  large  civil  engineering  &  infrastructure  projects  •  material  managed  on-­‐site  •  material  shipped  directly  from  project  sites  to  processing  or  disposal  

outside  of  Canada  

Generated: 117.8 kg/capita

Diverted: 19.2 kg/capita

Disposed: 98.6 kg/cap

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Residential vs Non-residential CRD Waste

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Estimated CRD Waste Generation in Canada

Estimated CRD Waste Diversion & Disposal in Canada

Construction, Renovation & Demolition Waste

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Estimated CRD Waste Generation in Canada

Residential Non-residential

Construction 15% 5% Renovation 57% 32% Demolition 28% 63%

Composition of CRD Waste

Key  CRD  Waste  Materials  Disposed  

*

*  Other  includes  a  wide  range  of  materials  each  representing  a  small  proportion   11

Methodology: Links to Substances of Interest

•  List  of  240  substances  of  interest  (SoI)  selected  by  Environment  Canada  

–  E.g.  substances  used  for  flame  retardants,  preservatives,  plasticizers,  pigments  

–  Various  chemical  groupings  –  e.g.  phthalates,  polycyclic  aromatic  hydrocarbons,  metals  &  related  compounds…  

•  Consulted  publically  available  reports  &  studies  to  identify  whether  present  in  CRD  waste  materials  

–  Environment  &  Health  Canada  Risk  Assessments  currently  available  

–  CRD  waste  leachate  studies  

–  Academic  reports  

–  Internet  search  –  Hazardous  materials  databases  

•  Identified  physical  &  chemical  properties  as  indicators  of  potential  pathways  to  exposure  for  those  SoI  present  in  CRD  waste   12

Preliminary Findings: Links to Substances of Interest

Presence  of  SoI  in  CRD  waste  identified  in  four  categories:  

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Confirmed present in one or more CRD waste materials 42

Likely present in one or more CRD waste materials 32

Unlikely present in CRD waste 20

Insufficient information to identify presence or confirm absence 104

Categorization in progress 42

Preliminary Findings: Uses of SoI Confirmed  or  likely  uses  include:  

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Uses Building Materials Sample Chemical/Group

solvents & thinners wood preservatives, paints & coatings & insulation foams

formaldehyde, naphthalene (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)

plasticizers & dispersants

vinyl & rubber materials, piping, cable housing, concrete, wallboard

phthalates

anti-corrosive coatings chromates

Flame retardants textiles, adhesives, coatings, plastic resin & building materials

organic & halogenated FR, boron, asbestos

fungicides & pesticides wood, adhesives, caulking CCA, ACA, AZQ, creosote, pentachlorophenol, boric acid,

waterproofing phthalates

pigments & colouring textiles, paint & coatings, plastics cobalt salts, chromates, lead cadmium, azo-dyes (maybe)

decolouring glass, ceramics selenium acids

soldering flux boron sodium oxide

curing & drying agents paints, adhesives, caulking phthalates, cobalt salts

electric insulator & coolant

PCB 14

Preliminary Findings: CRD Waste Management

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CRD Waste Processing

Facility

Outside Canada

Canada

CRD Project Site

CRD Waste or Municipal Landfill or

EFW Facility

Waste Transfer Operation

Mixed CRD Waste Loads Direct to Disposal Facility

CRD Waste Material

Recycling Markets

CRD Waste Processing Residuals

Captured in estimated quantities

Not captured in estimated quantities

Infrastructure for CRD Waste

•  Most  CRD  Waste  in  Canada  is  Landfilled  –  Conventional  MSW  landfills  –  reused  where  possible  for  road  

construction  and  cell  cover  –  Specially  designated  “dry”  landfills  for  CRD  waste  

•  Minimal  incineration  -­‐  only  small  amounts  at  4  EFW  facilities  •  CRD  recycling  companies  exist  in  most  large  urban  centres  across  

Canada  –  Single  material  processors  (primarily  for  wood,  drywall,  concrete,  

asphalt/shingles)  –  Specialized  CRD  facilities  for  2-­‐4  materials  -­‐  source  separated  loads  –  Facilities  which  process  all  CRD  waste  materials  –  receive  mixed  or  

source  separated  loads  (with  lower  tip  fee  for  separated  loads)  

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Location of Key CRD Waste Processing Facilities

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Mixed CRD waste

Drywall waste Asphalt shingles

Wood waste

CRD waste aggregates

CRD Waste Sorting Approaches

•  Mechanical  and  manual  sorting  for  recycling  

•  Facilities  typically  employ  some  combination  of:  –  Tipping  &  loading  areas  –  Conveyor  belts  &  manual  sorting  

lines  –  Ferrous  magnet  –  Grinders  &  screens  

•  Some  trying  optical  sorting  

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Uses for CRD Waste Materials

End  markets  for  processed  CRD  materials  include:  

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CRD  Waste  Material   Key  Markets  

Concrete  Aggregate  base  Erosion  control  

Asphalt   Recycled-­‐content  asphalt  mix  

Asphalt  shingles  New  shingles  Recycled-­‐content  pavement  mix  &  repair  Fuel  

Gypsum  Recycled-­‐content  wallboard  Soil  amendment  

Wood  (clean)  

Fuel  Mulches  Animal  bedding  Recycled-­‐content  wood  furniture  

Supporting CRD Waste Diversion

•  Drivers  for  effective  CRD  waste  recycling  are  :  

–  Local  landfill  bans  on  specific  materials  (e.g.  wood,  drywall)    

–  High  landfill  tipping  fees  relative  to  CRD  waste  recycling  

–  Purchasing  specifications  which  require  recycling/reuse  targets,  and  

–  LEED  or  other  green  building  certification  which  provides  incentives  to  reach  high  recycling  targets  

•  Level  of  CRD  recycling  varies  across  Canada  depending  on  local  circumstances,  for  example:  

–  Ontario  –  very  low  tipping  fees  in  US  &  CRD  processors  currently  struggling  

–  Nova  Scotia  –  policies  supportive  of  CRD  waste  recycling  in  place  &  planned  

–  Alberta  &  BC  –  combination  of  drivers  for  CRD  waste  recycling  

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Next Steps for Environment Canada

•  Complete  Study  by  March  2015  

•  Undertake  further  work  to  understand  &  examine  potential  issues  

•  Assess  potential  risks  posed  by  CRD  waste  &  take  action  where  necessary  

•  Work  with  provinces  &  territories  on  related  activities  through  the  CCME  

–  Waste  Management  Task  Group  

–  CRD  Waste  Project  Team  (Alberta,  Manitoba,  Ontario,  Nova  Scotia,  Environment  Canada)  

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Thank you

Guy Perry gperry@guyperry.ca www.guyperry.ca

Michael VanderPol Waste Reduction & Management Division michael.vanderpol@ec.gc.ca www.ec.gc.ca

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