Topical Reports Green Construction

Demolition and Construction Management

An essential link in the design chain is to plan the demolition and construction process to maximize reuse of materials and facilitate recycling of materials that will not be reused on site.

Questions to Consider

• What opportunities are available for reducing and recycling demolition waste and construction debris?
• How can the construction job be managed to efficiently sort and collect waste and debris for reuse or recycling?
• How can stormwater runoff be minimized during site construction?

Green Pages
Northwest EcoBuilding Guild's Directory of green construction consultants, builders, and contractors
http://www.ecobuilding.org

Also see Consultants

 

National Association of Demolition Contractors
This trade group has addressed critical issues and opportunities in deconstruction and has published conclusions and case studies in "Demolition: The First Step of Reconstruction".
http://www.demolitionassociation.com

Construction Materials Recycling Association
Devoted exclusively to the needs of the rapidly expanding construction waste & demolition debris processing and recycling industry. Specialty areas include: Information exchange, resources and support on current issues and technology; and promotion for acceptance and use of recycled construction materials including concrete, asphalt, wood, gypsum, and other materials.
http://www.cdrecycling.org/

Waste Prevention And Recycled Building Materials Design and Construction and Demolition Waste Management
Contact: City of Seattle Technical Assistance 206-389-7281
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/util/RESCONS/default.htm

Residential Construction Waste Management: A Builder’s Field Guide
http://www.nahbrc.org/builders/green/WASTEPUB.htm

Setting up Waste Management Plans for Job-Sites – King County Department of Natural Resources – Solid Waste Division
Provides a typical construction work schedule and various opportunities for each of the work phases: programming, schematic design & development, and build-out.
http://dnr.metrokc.gov/swd/bizprog/sus_build/a_plan.htm

Publications available in .pdf format on this site include:

• 2000 Construction, Demolition, and Landclearing Materials Recycling, and
  
• 2000 Contractor’s Guide to Preventing Waste and Recycling http://dnr.metrokc.gov/swd/bizprog/sus_build/how_others.htm

Article: "The Economics of Deconstruction"
Resource Recycling, February 2000

Article: Checklist for Building Deconstruction
Environmental Building News, May 2000, p 1, by Peter Yost.
Guidance for designers, owners and demolition contractors interested in maximizing deconstruction's potential, including discussions on these topics and more:

Existing buildings as resources

Design new buildings to utilize salvage

Design for disassembly

Selecting demolition firms

Using contract language to maximize reuse potential

Maintaining environmental and energy standards

Waste Management Publications
Offered by the National Association of Home Builders Research Center
http://www.nahbrc.org/builders/green/WASTEPUB.htm

Building Savings: Strategies for Waste Reduction of Debris from Buildings
Offered by the Institute for Local Self Reliance and EPA. Document number EPA-530-F-00-001.
http://www.ilsr.org/recycling/buildingdebris.pdf

Environmental Handbooks for Oregon Construction Contractors - Best Pollution Prevention Practices. November 1994. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
Contact: 800-452-4011

Construction Works - Metro King County
Factsheets and information on recycling various construction materials in the greater Seattle area.
http://dnr.metrokc.gov/greenworks/sus_build/susbuild.htm

Recycling Plus Manual - Clean Washington Center
http://www.CWC.org
(Go to "Construction")

Contractors’ Guide to Preventing Waste and Recycling
Scottsdale, Arizona's Greenbuilding Program
http://www.ci.scottsdale.az.us/greenbuilding/ConstRecycle.asp

Annotated Bibliography for Gypsum Recycling
Lists over 300 references on gypsum recycling opportunities, including fertilzer, soil treatment, odor control agent, a feedstock in cement, and more.
Contact: John Reindl, Recycling Manager, Dane County, WI - 608-267-8815

Stormwater, Grading and Drainage Code: Amendments 2000 - Seattle Department of Construction and Land Use
Amendments to the "Stormwater, Grading and Drainage Code" to minimize runoff from sites during construction and operation, the new requirements will further protect Seattle’s urban creeks and other aquatic habitat from large storms, and keep pollutants and excess sediment out of Seattle’s lakes and bays.
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/dclu/Codes/

National Wood Recycling Directory
Published by American Forest and Paper Association
http://www.afandpa.org/recycling/recycling.html

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