By Andrew Hunt
Along the same lines as OVE are engineered-wood products such as floor trusses and wall framing systems. Any time that a builder can order factory-made materials for a project, there is a pretty good chance that the overall amount of wood used is less and thus the waste generated is less. Engineered-wood manufacturing plants use almost all the raw lumber brought in. Once the materials are delivered to the jobsite, most engineered-wood products can be directly installed without modification. Fewer cuts means less waste, less labor and a more environmentally responsible jobsite.
Basic recycling
To set up an efficient jobsite recycling center, builders should first research what resources are available locally. Municipalities today have a growing number of green and sustainable initiatives to help support local business. Materials such as drywall, insulation and concrete are finding use and reuse in the community.
Making sure that only materials that can't be recycled end up in the Dumpster is critical. On a volume basis, cardboard comprises almost 30 percent of the trash generated on a jobsite, yet that amount turns out to be mostly "filler" in the waste container. Pound for pound, cardboard can be one of the most expensive items to dispose of. A cubic yard of drywall weighs about 400 pound; the same volume of cardboard is only about 30 pounds. This means that if you fill your 15-yard Dumpster with cardboard, you are paying to dump about 450 pounds of material, as opposed to the 6,000 pounds of drywall that would fill the same container. Tipping and hauling fees may be the same, but the volume generated is substantially different, which means more trips to the landfill and more costs to the builder.
The three critical aspects of jobsite recycling are:
- Clearly defined areas. Set up large, well-marked bins with chicken-wire or mesh sides to collect the materials to be recycled. With the contents visible, even when buried, your team can see what pieces are being wasted that might be reused.
- Separate the recyclables. Three bins are generally sufficient for the jobsite: one each for wood, metal and cardboard. Be sure to stress to everyone on the project that putting the right materials in the proper bin is the only way a program will succeed.
- Demand buy-in from the crew and trade contractors. Everyone who works on the construction of the house has to know that reducing waste, reusing when possible, and properly recycling materials is mandatory. Just like getting everyone on board with safety programs, the more your team agrees with the process, the greater your chances of success.
Whether builders are looking to squeeze a little more profit out to each project, do their part to help conserve natural resources, or simply use common sense and thrift in their businesses, reducing jobsite waste offers many rewards.
For more information, visit Peaks to Prairies.
Andrew Hunt is a freelance writer who specializes in building technology and green building.
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