Harry Whitver
Residential construction and demolition (C&D) waste comes to nearly 60 million tons annually in the U.S., more than 10 percent of the total domestic waste stream. Upstream, about 40 percent of the raw materials consumed in the U.S. are used in construction. One result: Increased tipping fees at a landfill near you.
Builders looking to save some money—and perhaps even generate some revenue—have committed to waste management practices that address how much material comes on the jobsite (and in what form), how it is used, and what’s done with the scrap.
And it’s not just for those going for green building certification, where a baseline waste management plan is required and a little extra effort can earn additional points. “Even if a waste management plan isn’t prescribed, it’s still easy to implement and delivers tangible benefits,” says John Peavey of the NAHB Research Center in Upper Marlboro, Md.
