Recycling Construction & Demolition Waste, What’s New for 2009?
By Matt Todd, Market Development Specialist
NC Recycling Business Assistance Center
Much of the work the Recycling Business Assistance Center (RBAC) does is focused on working directly with startup, existing, or re-locating recycling companies (collectors, processors, end-users). In doing this day-to-day work, we compile a pretty good amount of knowledge about who is out there working to find supplies of various recyclable material across a wide spectrum of categories.
One category that gets a lot of attention from building contractors is markets and methods for recycling construction & demolition (C&D) waste. There has been a big surge in activity over the past year. Even during the economic downturn there is active growth in this sector of the recycling industry.
The demand for resources associated with C&D recycling is increasing. The growth of the green building industry and the use of LEED (and other rating systems) is “creating a need” for builders and contractors across North Carolina.
RBAC realizes that if you have up-to-date information, and a better network of diversion options, more material would find its way back into economic use vs. being trucked to the C&D landfill. This type of shift will continue the momentum in the recycling industry of creating jobs and conserving natural resources. In addition we’ll be supplying growing end-markets for a wide variety of material generated from the C&D waste stream.
The recycling infrastructure for C&D waste in North Carolina is varied. RBAC is aware of a handful of mixed-waste recyclers, single-material processors, deconstruction operations, and architectural salvage businesses in locations across the state. The NC Recycling Markets Directory gives us a dependable list of companies that collect or process material from the C&D waste stream.
RBAC is addressing gaps in infrastructure by creating partnerships with local governments, and providing assistance to established private-sector companies for the expansion of C&D recycling services.
Immediate action is occurring with respect to diversion of tear-off shingles and drywall. Shingle diversion has started in Pitt County, located in eastern North Carolina, in partnership with Greenville Paving & Contracting, Inc. We hope to leverage the Pitt County shingle recycling operation into additional programs across North Carolina. Drywall recycling is occurring both on a county and private-sector level through the continued growth of Carolina Gypsum Reclamation – previously named Union Gypsum. There is also gypsum recycling opportunities through the multiple commercial composting operations in the state.
In an effort to get better connected with the contractor and planning community, RBAC is actively seeking to get involved with the appropriate professional organizations. We are contacting local and state chapters of organizations like the Home Builders Association, US Green Building Council and Emerging Green Builders, and the American Institute of Architects. We are available to provide ongoing educational opportunities as well as multiple recycling resources to members of these organizations – all in an effort to increase diversion.
Our goal is to provide you with resources and solutions that work. We are looking for continued input on C&D infrastructure and market needs from all sectors: local/county governments, private recycling operations, C&D landfill operators, contractors, builders, colleges/universities, and professional organizations. Call an RBAC team member to get involved with any part of this project. Please check our website for a list of RBAC contacts, http://www.p2pays.org/rbac/staff.html.
NC Recycling Business Assistance Center
Much of the work the Recycling Business Assistance Center (RBAC) does is focused on working directly with startup, existing, or re-locating recycling companies (collectors, processors, end-users). In doing this day-to-day work, we compile a pretty good amount of knowledge about who is out there working to find supplies of various recyclable material across a wide spectrum of categories.
One category that gets a lot of attention from building contractors is markets and methods for recycling construction & demolition (C&D) waste. There has been a big surge in activity over the past year. Even during the economic downturn there is active growth in this sector of the recycling industry.
The demand for resources associated with C&D recycling is increasing. The growth of the green building industry and the use of LEED (and other rating systems) is “creating a need” for builders and contractors across North Carolina.
RBAC realizes that if you have up-to-date information, and a better network of diversion options, more material would find its way back into economic use vs. being trucked to the C&D landfill. This type of shift will continue the momentum in the recycling industry of creating jobs and conserving natural resources. In addition we’ll be supplying growing end-markets for a wide variety of material generated from the C&D waste stream.
The recycling infrastructure for C&D waste in North Carolina is varied. RBAC is aware of a handful of mixed-waste recyclers, single-material processors, deconstruction operations, and architectural salvage businesses in locations across the state. The NC Recycling Markets Directory gives us a dependable list of companies that collect or process material from the C&D waste stream.
RBAC is addressing gaps in infrastructure by creating partnerships with local governments, and providing assistance to established private-sector companies for the expansion of C&D recycling services.
Immediate action is occurring with respect to diversion of tear-off shingles and drywall. Shingle diversion has started in Pitt County, located in eastern North Carolina, in partnership with Greenville Paving & Contracting, Inc. We hope to leverage the Pitt County shingle recycling operation into additional programs across North Carolina. Drywall recycling is occurring both on a county and private-sector level through the continued growth of Carolina Gypsum Reclamation – previously named Union Gypsum. There is also gypsum recycling opportunities through the multiple commercial composting operations in the state.
In an effort to get better connected with the contractor and planning community, RBAC is actively seeking to get involved with the appropriate professional organizations. We are contacting local and state chapters of organizations like the Home Builders Association, US Green Building Council and Emerging Green Builders, and the American Institute of Architects. We are available to provide ongoing educational opportunities as well as multiple recycling resources to members of these organizations – all in an effort to increase diversion.
Our goal is to provide you with resources and solutions that work. We are looking for continued input on C&D infrastructure and market needs from all sectors: local/county governments, private recycling operations, C&D landfill operators, contractors, builders, colleges/universities, and professional organizations. Call an RBAC team member to get involved with any part of this project. Please check our website for a list of RBAC contacts, http://www.p2pays.org/rbac/staff.html.
Labels: contractors recycling construction waste management diversion north carolina
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