Case Study

This fact sheet is part of an ongoing series of case studies sponsored by the Clean Washington Center (CWC) to highlight projects utilizing recycled content building materials.

McDonald's Restaurant

Two fast-food restaurants have recently been built in western Washington utilizing the latest in recycled-content building materials. These franchises, built by the McDonald's Corporation and located in Kent and Lynden, Washington, feature extensive use of recycled-content in both interior and exterior applications.

The McDonald's Corporation has been active in utilizing recycled-content products for several years and has recently extended these efforts to many of their construction-related activities. To facilitate the sourcing of recycled-content materials, McDonal d's has developed the McRecycle USA Database, listing available materials. For products to be listed they must contain at least 10% recycled-content and conform to standards for quality and competitive pricing.

Project Background The McRecycle USA program initially set a goal to spend a minimum of $100,000,000 annually on recycled-content products used to build, remodel and equip McDonald's restaurants. In its first two years, McDonald's exceeded its goal, purchasing more than $4 00,000,000 worth of recycled-content products. This project has helped to create new markets for many recycled-content building materials.

The matrix below describes several of the materials used on these projects. Interested parties are encouraged to visit either McDonald's to view how recycled building materials have been integrated into each structure.

Building Products Used

CSI	Product	Benefits / Comments	1994 Cost	Supplier	LOC.**
02-840	Guard post(Bollard), Hammer's Plastic	98% recycled plastic & steel, Faster installation.	$120 per post	Charles R. Watts Co., Ben Nelson, Seattle (206) 783-8400	(L)
02-860	Playground, Soft Play Equipment	12% recycled plastic, 50% recycled aluminum clamps, custom installation	$ 18 to 250 K complete	Nancy Stiner, Oregon (503) 324-1002	(L)
02-860	Play mat, Top Turf	75% recycled tires, trained specialist for installation	$14-$17/sq. ft.	Don Wilson, Seattle (206) 774-1805	(L)
02-870	Park bench, Dura Bench	96% recycled HDPE & LDPE, 90% post-consumer, assembly required	$250 each + freight	Charles R. Watts Co., Ben Nelson, Seattle (206) 783-8400	(L)&(K)
02-920	Compost	100% Organic Waste, standard applications	Competitive	Answer Garden, Brian Schindel, British Columbia (604) 856-6836	(L)&(K)
06-620	Counter top, Corian Sierra design	Up to 20% recycled scrap, trained specialist for installation	$50-$75/sq. ft.	DuPont Company, Dennis Gullicson, Seattle (206) 722-0800	(L)&(K)
07-200	Fiberglass insulation, Manville	20% recycled glass, 15% post-consumer, standard characteristics	Competitive	Schuller International, Reed Larson, Colorado (800) 622-0149	(L)&(K)
07-300	Copper shingles, Roofing	100% recycled copper from wire & radiators	$6,234 / one roof		(K)
08-200	Interior doors	20% recycled content Particle board	Competitive		(L)&(K)
08-400	Store front aluminum windows	50% recycled aluminum alloy	Competitive	Goldfinch Brothers, Greg Goldfinch, (206) 258-4662	(L)
09-250	Gypsum wallboard(Gyproc), DomTAR	100% recycled kraft paper liner,10-15% recycled gypsum	Competitiv	e DomTAR Gypsum, Jean, Tacoma (206) 583-0925	(L)&(K)
09-310	Ceramic tile, Imperva Granite	70% Byproduct of Coal, wet masonry blade required for cutting	$3/sq. ft.	Unique Distributing Corp., Seattle (206) 682-9470	(L)&(K)
09-340	Glass paver, Hot Paver	100% recycled green glass	Varies on tile	Hot Stuff Glass Company, Bill Sargent, Bellingham (360) 733-0539	(L)
09-510	Ceiling Tile, Armstrong Cortega #704	43% recycled newsprint, standard specs and installation	Inexpensive	Armstrong Industries, Bonnie Moore, (717) 462-4171	(L)&(K)
10-400	Menu board	80% recycled plastic, custom fittings	$5,000 per unit	Florida Plastics Int'l, Inc. (708) 499-0400	(L)&(K)
12-620	Table top, Tray & Waste Dispenser	100% recycled mill residuals in medium density fiberboard	Competitive		(L)&(K)
12-620	Table Base	85% recycled cast iron	Competitive		(L)&(K)
12-620	Seating & Chair frames	50% recycled steel	Competitive		(L)&(K)
** LOC. - (L) indicates Lynden location and (K) indicates Kent location

Why Use Recycled-Content ? Recycled-content products are just like any other product you might use. In fact, many established industry standard materials contain recycled-content and have for many years. New technologies are allowing the development of many new products utilizin g recycled materials. These products are price competitive, with high quality and durability.

Correspondingly, construction projects are turning to source separated recycling as a cost-effective method of handling waste. Recycled-content building products can be manufactured using recycled feedstocks from these wastes, offering a closed-loop recy cling opportunity.

These products are an efficient use of our energy, economic and environmental resources. They create needed markets for waste materials and simultaneously reduce the strain of enormous virgin resource consumption by the construction industry.