United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-00-001b
June 2000
www.epa.gov/osw
Erickson's Diversified
Corporate
Headquarters
Hudson, Wisconsin
69% Reduction of Construction Materials
Erickson's Diversified Corporation, a company that develops and manages grocery stores,
decided to incorporate environmental considerations into the construction of its new
headquarters. In order to reduce the impact on area landfills, Erickson's, along with its
consultants and contractor, developed a materials management plan that required
diversion of 75% of construction discards by volume. Erickson's reached this goal, diverting
69% of the materials by weight.
Project Description
Although the concept of recovering
construction materials was new to Erickson's
Diversified, it developed a materials
management plan that recovered 75% by
volume (69% by weight) of C&D debris
generated during the construction of its new
headquarters.
The newly constructed headquarters,
with almost 28,000 square feet of floor
space, consists of two floors and a
basement garage.
Implementation of the materials
management plan was responsible for
much of the project's success. The plan
provided subcontractors with instructions
on reduction, reuse and recycling
techniques, and sorting methods.
It required each subcontractor to:
• complete a report on their
predicted C&D debris generation;
• designate a contact person
who would attend staff meetings
and inform other crew members
about C&D debris management
requirements and project progress;
• source separate materials
and document materials generated
using a Waste Management
Periodic Report;
• minimize storage and packaging discards;
• consider the reuse potential of temporary
construction materials such as bracing; and
• use standard size product samples, such
as tile, so the samples could be used in the final
construction.
Good communication among team
members was another major factor in the
success of the project. The client, contractor, and
consultant presented the project's goals and
objectives to subcontractors and their crews in
simple, easily understood terms. The client
reinforced its commitment to achieving
environmental goals by attending weekly site
meetings and talking with workers. The project
consultant wrote and periodically dispersed
newsletters informing all workers of the project's
Materials Collected
aluminum cans, cardboard, concrete,
miscellaneous metal (cut offs,
banding, from shipments, ducts, steel
stud cut offs, mattress springs, roof
metal, rebar, roof decking), office
paper, wood (cut offs, pallets, crating
and packaging, old forms)
Salvaged for Reuse
bricks,canvas bags, carpeting,
concrete curing tarp, concrete mix,
gypsum board, insulation, lumber,
miscellaneous metal, metal angle,
plywood, steel frames, stone caps
and remnants, wire spools, wood and
pallets
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progress. The consultant invited the
general contractor and subs to go on field
trips to recycling facilities to reinforce the
purpose of recovery. Also, workers were
reminded of the project's objectives
through daily interaction with lead
contacts, the project superintendent, and
the project manager. Even the hauler
helped facilitate materials recovery and
reduce contamination by finding available
space for recycling bins, and providing
signs labeling each bin.
Erickson's Diversified and its
contractor encountered no major
obstacles during the project and found
that it was easy, cost-effective, and
enjoyable to create a C&D debris
management plan and implement it on
the construction site.
Costs/Benefits
During the construction of its new
headquarters, Erickson's Diversified
discovered that materials recovery saves
money. Initially, the contractor estimated
Project Summary
Date Started
November 1995
Date Completed December 1996
Project Square Footage 28,000
Total Waste Generated (Tons) 270.6
Disposed (Tons) 85.3
Diversion (Tons) 185.3
Recycled 157.3
Salvaged 28.1
Total Materials Diverted 68.5%
Total Construction Cost $4,700,000
Hauling and Disposal Costs ($/Ton) MA
Materials Diversion Costs (Savings)
Planning and
Development $4,300
Labor NA
Materials/Equipment NA
Hauling and Tip Fees NA
Revenue / Savings from Materials Diversion
Revenue from Materials Sales $0
Savings from Materials Reuse $0
Savings from Avoided Hauling
and Disposal NA
Cost/(Savings) from Diversion NA
Cost/(Savings) per Square Foot NA
Key: NA = not available.
that materials recovery would
increase the project costs
because of the need for
additional recycling bins and
separation of recyclables.
However, materials diversion
costs were less than predicted
and, in fact, project costs
would have been more if
Erickson's Diversified had not
required their general
contractor to recover
construction debris.
Recovering the 185 tons of
materials diverted required
more planning and labor than would have
been necessary if the materials had been
disposed. For example, Erickson's
Diversified paid a consulting firm over
$4,300 for planning, developing, and
reporting upon the project's progress. The
general contractor incurred additional
labor costs for source separation and
additional crew training. Not all
materials recovery methods
increased costs. Labor costs were
lowered through the reduction of
packing materials, because crew
members spent less time
unpacking materials and
hauling packaging to the bins.
The hauler handled the removal of
recyclables and charged lower rates for
this service than for landfilling.
Erickson's Diversified donated all
reusable materials to the public and did
not receive any revenue from materials
diversion.
Tips for Replication
• Establish a clear numerical goal for
the project.
• Choose a general contractor and
subcontractors who can demonstrate a
commitment to reducing disposal.
• Provide source reduction, reuse, and
recycling forms to project managers and
haulers to make data reporting easier.
• Communicate the goal and report
project progress, success, and failures to
«.;'
site.
the project
everyone involved.
• If possible, hire haulers who can offer
all-inclusive recycling and waste hauling
services.
Client
Erickson's Diversified
Corporation
509 Second Street
Hudson, Wisconsin 54016
Contact: Amy Briesacher (Director of
Environmental and Community Action)
Phone: 715-386-9315 Fax: 715-386-1013
Consultant
LHB Engineers & Architects
250 Third Avenue North, Suite 450
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
Contact: Joel Schurke (Project Manager)
Phone: 612-338-2029 Fax: 612-338-2088
E-mail: joel.schurke@LHBcorp.com
Web site: http://www.LHBcorp.com
General Contractor
Watson-Forsberg Co.
1433 Utica Avenue South, Suite 252
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416
Contact: Paul Kolias (Project Manager)
Phone: 612-544-7761 Fax: 612-544-1826
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