nwswctui — mwaiB i> Mm Old buildings are constantly being remodeled or torn down to make room for new ones. Because time is a critical element on many projects, the removal of a bull ding is usually done as quickly as possible. The standard practice of demolition involves smashing a structure so the pieces can be quickly and easily taken to the landfill. Although this saves time, there are considerable costs in terms of pollution, wasted resources, and landfill space. Reusing existing buildings and materials reclaims resources and significantly cuts waste. Deconstruction, the systematic dismantling of i structure, can be used in various degrees in order to salvage usable materials. This can range from reuse of an entire structure or foundation, to select assemblies and systems, to the careful removal of specific materials or items. Things to Consider when Conducting Salvage Activities X C i induct an assessment to identify salvageable materials. A walk- through with deconstruction, demolition, and general contractors can help to identify items that can be reused in any planned new structure or on other current jobs. x Obtain "as-built" plans; these will help to identify structural members and other hidden features of a building that are not visible during a walk-through. x If time does not allow for extensive salvage, target the easy things. "Cherry-picking" can yield valuable appliances, light fixtures, hardware, architectural millwork, and other custom accessories. x C onsider materials not only for their utility, but also for their aesthetic value. Reclaimed materials, particularly old growth or rare woods, are very desirable as decorative and finish treatments. x Advertise a deconstruction pre-sale: interested individuals can remove and purchase items before demolition begins. x Although some materials can be reused, there are many that will need to be removed. Donating unused and salvaged building materials can be accomplished through material exchanges or nonprofit organizations. Many organizations can provide tax donation paperwork. Bright Ideas Instead of seeing an old structure as a problem, view it as a resource. By learning to evaluate a structure in term s of its hidden value, educated decisions can be made about how to use a building's resources. There are salv ageable elem en tsin virtually every building. Additional Information The C&D Waste Reduction and Recycling series consists of 9 fact sheets, each focusing on a different aspect of waste manage- ment. Factsheets in this series include: What's in a Building: Composition Analysis of C&D Debris Onsite Source Reduction: Cutting the Scrap Settingup ajobsite Recycling Program Deconstruction,: New Opportunities for Salvage Calculating Effectiveness: The Waste Management Plan Reducing Waste for Building Owners Waste Recycling Through Commingled Recovery: the Summerland Heights Residential Development Deconstruction on Commercial Renovation Projects: the Victoria Street Presbyterian Sanctuary Source Reduction in Residential Remodeling: the Las Alturas Adobe Other resources: Environ m en tal Resource Guide, American Institute of Architects (800) 365-2724 Environ mental Building New sand Green Spec Pro duct Directory (802) 257-7300 En v iro nmen tal Design <&Co n structio n Maga^in e (847)291-5224 Deconstruction (video), Materials for the Future Foundation (415) 561-6530 Builder's Held Guide, N ational Association of Home Builders (202) 822-0200 Waste Spec: Mo del Green Building Specification s, T riangle J C ouncil of Governments (919) 549-0551 Sustain able Building Techn icalMan ual, U. S. Green Building C ouncil (202) 828-7422 Visit these web sites for downloadable publications, listserve information, and links to other green building sites: www.ciwmb.ca.govwww.tjcog.dst.nc.us/cdwaste.htmwww.EDCmag.com www.epa.gov/greenbuildingwww.buildinggreen.comwww.materials4foture.org www.aia.orgwww.oikos.orgwww.usgbc.org The C &D W aste Reduction and Recy cling Series is a joint project of the Santa Barb ara C ounty Solid W aste and U tilities Division, The Community Environmental Council, and The Sustainability Project. For more information please contact he U. S. EPA, Region 9 Office of Pollution Prevention and Solid W aste at (415) 972-3282. Funded by a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9. Th* Sualafcubility Project infMntiirfl CdivriAi/ SduUn EPA United Slates Environmental Prtrt®ction Agency COMMUNITY E N VI RON M ENTAL COU NCI L Printed on 50%postconsumer recycled paper, processed chlorine free ------- New Opportunities For Reclaimed wood One of the largest components of construction and demolition waste is wood. As old growth forests continue to be depleted, timber priceswill only increase. The demand for reclaimedwood products will also rise. Increased deconstruction and salvage activities can help meet this demand. People who work with wood know that the best quality wood comes from old growth trees. Old growth lumber offers a close, clear grain with few knots, and is generally harder and more stable with less defects than wood from y ounger trees. C ompared with virgin wood that can be purchased today , old growth lumber can span more than twice the distance of younger, lighter woods. Another benefit of older framing lumber is that it can be re-milled. Today a two-by-four piece of dimensional lumber is actually a bit smaller (only 1.5 inches by 3.5 inches). Older two-by-fours were actually right on, leaving an allowance of a quarter inch on each surface for re-planing. Old growth woods are also aesthetically desirable, and are sought after by craftsmen for use in furniture making, art pieces, and finish treatments. Reclaimedwood can provide all the benefits of old growth wood, but with out the environmental costs. The nail holes, fastener marks, and the rich, aged color of used lumber pieces can add to their appeal. Only 5% of North America's old growth forests are still standing, while thousands of board feet of old growth lumber in buildings is demolished and landfilled every year. This is changing with more and more lumber from old buildings being reclaimed every year. Reuse versus Recycling When evaluating alternatives for divertmgwaste, reuse should be favored over recycling \v hercv er possible. The time that it takes to implement careful removal of items should be weighed against their market value and the availability oflocal outlets. There are many items that, if still in good condition, will find a place in the market. However, damaged materials will need to be evaluated carefully. If materials cannot be reused, recycling can provide a cost effective and environmentally preferable alternative to disposal. Building materials that are readily salvaged: Appliances Cabinets Bricks Insulation Doors Paneling Flooring Wood beams Light fixtures Dimensional lumber Metal framing Ceramic tile Pipes Bathroom fixtures Shelving Windows Deconstruction Resources Reuse Development Organization (ReDO) -Non-profit organization promoting reuse as an environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economical means for managing surplus and discarded materials, http:/ /www. redo. org. Used Building Materials Association - A non-profit, membership based organization representing companies and organizations involved in the acquisition and/or redistribution of used building materials, http: / /www.ubma.org U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Construction and demolition debris website including deconstruction information and case studies, http: //www.epa.gov/ California Resource Recovery Association Construction and Demolition Council - Promotes the advancement of C&D material recovery practices and strives to expand C&D recovery infrastructure and markets, http://www.crra.com/cdc/index.html. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - OSHA regulations place restrictions on the manual handling of asbestos and lead based paint. Visit OSHA online and follow the link to "advisors" to download programs to assist you in determining your responsibilities, http: //www.osha.gov. WasteSpec - Provides free detailed model specification language for reducing and recycling construction and demolition debris, www. tj cog. dst. nc. us/ cdw aste. htm ------- |