Foflow the wrecking bd: C&D recovery at work by Debbi Palermini

A $262 million construction project creates a lot of jobs, a lot of dirt and a lot of recover- able materials. A good example of the recov- ery potential of large construction project is taking place in Portland, Oregon.

A new sports and entertainment complex, developed by the Oregon Arena Corporation to house the Portland Trail Blazers profes- sional basketball team, the 750,000-square- foot facility has detinitely put concem for the environment as a high priority.

After careful review of both the econom-

ic costs of disposing of construction waste as well as the environmental problems associ- ated with landfilling construction and demo- lition (C&D) debris, OAC set aggressive goals and developed a comprehensive waste man- agement plan that emphasizes reducing, reusing and recycling C&D waste.

OAC has a Green Team composed of interested staff who are working closely with

Palermini & Associates to develop an over- al1 environmental plan that outlines measures for waste reduction and recycling during con- struction, as well as during the operation of the arena complex. Examples of waste reduc- tion and recycling currently being researched for inclusion in the plan include purchasing recycled content products for the concession, restaurant and Office areas, as well as look-

Debbi Palermini is the principal of Palermini & Associates in Portland, Oregon, an environmental con- sulting firm specializing in environmentally sound business practices.

Resource Recycling April 1994 m

Separate drop boxes were used to collect clean wood, metals, drywall, corrugated contianers and concrete.

ing for areas to use recycled content building materials during construction.

The facility will also be set up for recy- cling during and/or after events, if it is cost effective. Procurement and agreement poli- cies will be developed with vendors to reduce the amount of waste actually coming on-site.

Setting the stage A preliminary cost/benefit analysis was per- formed to determine the economic viability of setting up and implementing a C&D waste recycling program for the arena project. The economics clearly pointed to recycling: n Tipping fees in the Portland metropolitan

area range from $58 to $75 per ton, not

With the massive construction project 20 percent complete, recovery efforts are impressive.

(/ Over 99 percent of the material gen- erated to date has been recycled.

(/ Eighty-five percent of the recovered material has been rubble.

(/ Recovered dirt has accounted for 8 percent.

/ Eighty-six percent of the C&D wood was recovered for recycling or reuse; 14 percent was landfilled.

including roll-off container renta1 or haul- ing costs.

n Numerous local businesses take C&D waste at low cost or, in some case, for free. Very early in the process, the owners of

the project made the commitment to develop an effective waste management plan. Drakemumer Construction, the general con-

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tractor foythe project, contracted with Paler- mini & Associates to develop the waste man- agement plan. Elements of the plan include bid specification language, solicitation of and agreements with haulers, on-site setup and monitoring, subcontractor education, moni- toring and tracking of debris leaving the site, and conducting a costlbenefit analysis on the results of the waste management plan.

Bid specification packages Al1 bid specification packaging released by Drake/Turner includes a section on con- struction waste management. The section clearly outlines the waste management plan and recycling requirements for subcontrac- tors. Bob Collier, project manager for OAC, says, We felt it was important to clearly out- line the commitment OAC has for recycling by making it a contract requirement that al1 subcontractors recycle on the job site. In addition, contractors are encouraged to reuse as .many materials as possible during the course of construction (e.g., wood framing).

Working with haulers Dmkflurner invited five Portland area haulers to submit proposals for implementing the rccy- cling plan and for collecting the remaining trash. The successful bidders for the project were A.G.G. Enterprises, a local minority- owned company, and Waste Management of

Oregon. A.G.G. collects the trash and Waste Man- agement collects the recy- cling bins.

n Table 1 - Construction and demolition debris recovery, Oregon Arena construction project, in tons (1)

Disposed/ Material Recovered landfilled Total

The job site The project management team and P&A analyzed the best possibilities for efficient job site collec- tion of recyclable mate- rials. A site plan was established, and clearly marked bins were placed on the site.

Wood Metal Salvage & reuse (timbers & large metal rebar)

Dirt (sent to a reprocessing facility)

Landclearing debris Rubble

405 67 472 296 296

1,250 1,250

2,517 2,517

214 214 25,985 191 191

(1) Project is 20 percent complete. Source: Palermini & Associates, 1994.

To help facilitate the recycling program, Drake/Turner provided separate containers, each strategically placed on the job site to recov- er and recycle wood, metals, drywall, corru- gated containers and concrete.

Joe Stinolis, Drake/Turner project man- ager, indicated, As construction escalates, numerous bins will be placed on-site and addi- tional90-gallon roll-off containers will be used on each floor for the collection of re- cyclable materials. Every effort will be under- taken to provide easy access for subcontrac- tors to source separate and recycle debris Our goal is to reduce the amount of waste going into the trash bin. Every time a 40-yard

trash bin goes to the landfill, it costs the proj- ect money. Every time a clean source- separated recycling bin is taken off the site, it saves the project money.

Subcontractor education Al1 subcontractors receive information on the projects recycling program when starting work on the OAC project. Project updates are given during the on-site safety meetings. Recycling bins are clearly marked and source separation requirements for each material are common knowledge.

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The site is closely monitored to assure that the recycling bins are not contaminated with materials other than those they are dedicated to collect. With the costs ranging from $60 per 40-yard bin for a clean source-separated wood load to be taken to a wood recycling facility to $560 for a dirty wood load that has to be taken to the landfill, it soon becomes

clear to the subcontractors why the recycling program is in place!

The results to date

with a portion of an exhibit hall of the Memo- rial Coliseum, the current sports, entertain- ment and conference complex. i

The demolished structures were primarily With the project approximately 20 percent concrete and wood, with metal in the heating, complete, 30,668 tons of debris have been ventilation and air conditioning equipment recycled. Early in the project, an old car wash and rebar in the concrete. A portion of a Street manufacturing facility was demolished, along and a parking lot were also excavated.

Large timbers and pieces of rebar were sal- vaged for reuse before demolition, and light poles and landcleting debris were recycled. About 67 tons of wood could not be recycled during demolition due to the way the buildings had been constructed. The costs for source separation would have been prohibitive, and the wood was sent toa local landfill.

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Less than 1 percent of the total waste gen- erated - or 258 tons of debris - has been landfilled. The remaining debris was sent to local recycling facilities or used for fil1 (in the case of concrete and rubble) at various sites around Portland. A preliminary cost/henefit analysis indicates that $70,000 in savings has been realized to date from recycling the metal and wood alone. The savings carne from reduced tipping and hauling fees.

And the story goes on The Oregon Arena Corporation and DrakeITurner have both been very open to looking at the possibility of using recycled content building products in the construction

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Cutting rebar,for recycling.

of the arena project. P&A has presented the team with potential products, and selected products have been including in the bid pack- ages. If the products look good, tit the spec- ifications and meet with the owners approval, they will be used. A more comprehensive

e environmental plan will be implemented as the project progresses.

HOUSEHOLD

Do not put househoid battenes in yow trash containers or recycling hin. Use this bag as directed below forproper disposal of youi battenes.

Place household batteries in lhis bag Do NOTNlclude wet ce// (ca< boal, molorcycle) balteries.

2 WHEN THE BAG /S FULL, pu/ il beslde your recycling container for your hauler fo coiiect during regular pick-up DO NOT PLACE THK BAG INSIDE YOUR RECYCLING CONTAINER

3 Yoo ti// receive four bags each yeal This bag is for househoid balteries ONLY NO GARBAGE PLEASEI

The Oregon Arena project, though in its early stages, has proven that job site recycling works, if al1 the pieces are in place, the com- mitment is there and the facilities are avail- able to take the recyclables. Of course, sav- ing $70,000 thus far helps too! RR

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