, j}GreenScapes ME
Environmentally Beneficial Landscaping '¦a
r~
# jjUJH P'' ff
fv\\. ™
Iflfl
Su
iccess Story ;
Not Your Typical Compost Feedstock
in Aspen, Colorado, snow Is not the only material piling up—construction and demolition (C&D)
debris is being generated nearly as fast as the snowfalls. That's why environmentally conscious
Aspen Skiing Company—while welcoming the snow—has decided to reuse building materials
and create compost out of the remaining materials instead of throwing them away.
When it was time for the Aspen Skiing Company to demolish two buildings in 1999, the company
chose to institute a "deconstruction" program—reversing the building process and removing and
sorting reusable items instead of sending the waste to the landfill. The company ground up the
remaining sheetrock and scrap lumber, turning it into compost. Using this approach, the
company kept 84 percent of the old buildings out of the local landfill and allowed the materials to
have a second life in new buildings and compost.
Auden Schendler, director of environmental affairs for the company, said, "Although
deconstruction may cost more, it has proved to be successful, and the environmental benefits
are clear." The only real challenge the company faced prior to initiating the program was
identifying a contractor willing to train the laborers to deconstruct rather than demolish
The most significant environmental benefit of deconstruction is the potential to recycle or reuse
materials. The Aspen Skiing Company brought the sheetrock and wood to the local landfill where
it was collected for composting. The compost generated is combined with wastewater treatment
sludge from other districts and is used for applications such as highway maintenance.
Cost savings is a huge draw for deconstruction. For example, by deconstructing its Sundeck
Restaurant, the Aspen Skiing Company realized significant cost savings. Normally, there is a
standard tipping fee of $21.50 per cubic yard on C&D waste, but the landfill manager waived it
because he was able to sell the compost—saving the company over $42,000 in avoided
disposal costs. Schendler suggests negotiating contractors fees down by accounting for the
reduced landfill fees, as long as the cost savings can be proved. Otherwise, the contractor can
capture the cost savings, as was the case with the second Aspen deconstruction project.
For more information, see the Aspen Skiing Company's environmental programs Web site at
&EPA
United States Environmental Rotection Agency
Gfice of Solid V\6ste and Bnergency Response (5306V\|
EPA530- F-03-022
July 2003
.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/green
------- |