Muting Waste for Mflng Owners

Whether you are planning a small scale renovation ofyour home or business, wish to
build a new structure, or plan to conduct a full-scale demolition, you can foster waste
reduction.

If you plan to do the work yourself a careful evaluation of materials and a willingness
to identify and salvage reusable materials can make a significant difference in the
waste generated by your project. Ifyouwill beworkingwith an architect or
contractor, your influence can make a difference in their attitude toward minimizing
waste.

Choosing an Architect

If your construction or remodel will require the services of an architect, choose one
that is knowledgable and enthusiastic about resource conservation. Waste prevention
on a project is less likely without the advocacy of the project architect and designers.
A committed architect will find ways to incorporate waste prevention into the
building design. Their cooperation also ensures that strategies designed to reduce
waste are properly implemented during the building phase of new construction.
There are a number of ways ofworking together to define goals for reducingwaste:

x Ask prospective architects to provide information about prior experience
in implementing waste prevention strategies.

x Choose durable materials. Waste can be prevented and money saved over
the life of a structure by designing buildings that are energy efficient and
last longer.

x Consider long range goals for the structure and work with the architect to
create a design that is adaptable for future needs. Savings gained through
durability cannot be realized if a building is demolished before the end of
its projected life.

x W ork with the architect to identify creative uses for the reuse of existing
structures (full or partial) and salvaged materials.

x Communicate your willingness to purchase salvaged or recycled content
building materials. Also, reuse as many materials as possible from y our
demolition or renovation project.

x Request that designs include space for storage and separation of materials
awaiting reuse, recycling or composting.

Bright Ideas

Ultimately, it is the owner who bears responsibilityfor tke waste
generated during the construction, renovation, dem olition or
operation of a building. Be sure yon play an active role in a
waste reduction plan.

Additional information

The C&D Waste Reduction and Recycling series consists of 9 fact sheets, each focusing on a different aspect ofwaste management.
Factsheets in this series include:

What's in a Building: Composition Analysis of C&D Debris
Onsite Source Reduction: Cutting the Scrap
Setting up ajobsite Recycling Program
Deconstruction: New Opportunities for Salvage
Calculating Effectiveness: The Waste Management Plan
Reducing Waste for Building Owners

Waste RecyclingThrough Commingled Recovery: the SummerlandHeights 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

En v iro nmen tal Building New s and Green Spec Pro ductDirecto ry

Em v iro nmen tal Design <&Co n structio n Maga^in e

Deconstruction (video), Materials for the Future Foundation

Builder's Held Guide, N ational Association of Home Builders

Waste Spec: Model Green Building Specifications^ Triangle J Council of Governments

Sustain able Building Technical Manual, U.S. Green Building Council

(800) 365-2724
(802) 257-7300
(847) 291-5224
(415) 561-6530
(202) 822-0200
(919) 549-0551
(202) 828-7422

Visit these web sites for downloadable publications, listserve information, and links to other green building sites:

www.ciwmb.ca.gov
www.epa.gov /greenbuilding
www.aia.org

www.tjcog.dst.nc.us/cdwastehtm
w w wbuildinggreen. com
www .oikos.org

www.EDCmag.com
w w w .materials4future. org
www.usgbc.org

The C&D Waste Reduction and Recycling Series is a joint project of the Santa Barbara County Solid Waste and U tilities Division,
The Community Environmental Council, and The Sustainability Project.

For more information please contact the 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.

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EPA

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Envircmrrtr-'Sai Prol-rct^n

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Printed on 50% post consumer recycled paper, processed chlorine free

11/11/CD

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The Project Team

W aste prevention is not limited to the project architect. A wide range of building professionals are in a
position to implement strategies for waste prevention:

Architects/Engineers

x Design for optimal resource use and energy efficiency

x Specify reused, recycled content, and environmentally preferable building materials
x Design for durability and adaptability, with a focus on life cycle costs

General Contractor

x Develop a waste management plan and set specific attainment goals
x Work with construction crew to implement jobsite recycling
x Work with materials suppliers to reduce packaging waste and identify

recycled content, environmentally preferable, and locally sourced products.

Demolition Contractor

x Utilize deconstruction and salvage where feasible

x Make sure that remaining demolition debris is taken to a recycling facility

Construction Subcontractors

x Take responsibility for on-site waste management
x Plan accordingly for purchases, deliveries, and storage of materials

Glossary of Green Building iterms

Adaptable buildings Buildings that can be easily remarketed,
retrofitted, or reconfigured to better meet the changingneeds
ofoccupants, maintenance crews, and the larger community.

Build to suit:: Construction ofland improvements and
buildings to a tenant's or buyer's specifications.

Composting; A waste management option involving the
controlled biological decomposition of organic materials
into a stable product that can be applied to the land without
adversely affecting the environment.

Deconstruction: The reverse ofconstruction. The careful and
systematic dismantling of a structure to maximize the
recovery ofvaluable building resources.

Engineered lumber: Strong, stable wood product that is

created with adhesives, heat and pressure from the fiber ofyoung,
abundant, fast growing trees.

Green development: A development approach that goes beyond
conventional development practice by integrating environmental
responsiveness, resource efficiency, and sensitivity to existing
culture and community.

Green wash (also faux green): To falsely claim a product is
environmentally sound.

life cycle The stages of aproduct, beginning with raw materials
acquisition, continuing with manufacture, construction, and use,
and concluding with avariety ofrecovery, recycling, or waste
management options.

Locally souroed materials: Materials obtained from within a
defin ed radius around a pro ject site, in order to support the local
economy and reduce transportation costs and energy.

Nonrenewable resources: Natural resources that are consumed faster

Alternatives to Demolition

Deconstruction is the systematic removal of materials from structures in order to maximize the resources that are
still present. Instead of reducing your building to a pile of rubble, deconstruction can yield useful items and
valuable building materials, including lumber, fixtures, hardware, and appliances.

Deconstruction can be applied on a number of levels. In some instances an entire structure can be partially
dismantled and moved to another site where it is reassembled. This is not uncommon with structures that have
historic appeal. There may be elements ofy our building that'you would like to salvage to use in your rebuild.
Finally, if there are components or materials that you have no use for, consider that someone else might want
them. Local outlets are available for used and salvaged building materials. There are nonprofit organizations that
accept used building material, and donations are tax deductible (contact the Santa Barbara County Solid Waste and
U tilities Division for a listing of outlets).

Although there may be additional costs associated with deconstruction, such as increased labor hours, under
favorable conditions the cost of deconstruction is competitivewith demolition, while also reducing disposal costs.
Also, environmental benefits are not reflected in direct cost comparisons. The use of deconstruction will result in
less disturbance to the surrounding landscaping, decreased nuisance dust, and conserved landfill space. As activities
become more common the economics are certain to improve.

f

than can be produced. Thus they are limited resources that could
eventually be depleted.

Plastic lumber: A lumber product made from recycled plastics or a
composite ofwood fiber and plastic. Water, chemical, and pest
resistant, suggested for decking and light construction; not suitable
for structural framing.

Post consumer recycled content: Materials used in manufacture have
been purchased once already and have been used by consumers,
fallingwithin the strictest definition of "recycled." Products with a
high percentage of postconsumer recycled content are very resource
efficient.

the advantages—hard, stable, free .of knots—of old growth
timbers, w ithout the need for Continued logging of already
depleted forests.

Recycled material: Material that would otherwise be destined for
disposal but is diverted from the waste stream, reintroduced as a
feedstock, and processed into marketed products.

Renewable resources: Resources that are created or produced at least
as fast as they are consumed, so that nothing is depleted.

Source reduction: Minimizing waste at the source ofgeneration;
preventing waste before it is generated.

Post industrial recycled content: Indicates thatmanufacturingwaste
has been cycled back into the production process. These products
do not represent the significant resource savings that post consumer
products do, but are far preferable to those that use virgin materials.

Reclaimed lumber: Wood that has been removed from defunct
structures or logs that have sunk in rivers during transport. Has all

Tipping fees: Pees charged for dumping trash at a landfill, transfer
station, or recycling facility.

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