Interagency Cooperation Leads to Recycling on State of Wisconsin Projects
MADISON – Wisconsin should see less construction and demolition (C&D) debris in its landfills come the first of the year. A unique partnership among two state agencies and a nonprofit organization has shown that construction and demolition projects throughout Wisconsin can successfully recycle. Based on these results, the Division of State Facilities will be requiring C&D waste to be recycled rather than put in landfills. This will apply to State of Wisconsin construction projects over $5 million and demolition projects advertised for bid after January 1, 2010. The efforts will reduce waste disposal costs, conserve landfill space and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The encouraging results come from a pilot project in which the nonprofit WasteCap Resource Solutions (formerly WasteCap Wisconsin ) worked with the Department of Administration Division of State Facilities (DSF) under a contract with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The goal of the project, which began in 2007, was to develop methods, standards and trained staff to result in successful, measured C&D debris recycling on state projects.
Nationally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates more than 170 million tons of construction and demolition (C&D) debris are generated each year. In Wisconsin , C&D debris—much of which is recyclable—represents a huge proportion of the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream. A 2002 DNR study found that C&D debris made up nearly 30 percent of the MSW stream, with five of the top 10 largest single components of the MSW being materials found in C&D, including untreated wood and shingles as the first and third largest components, respectively.
In recent years, the state of Wisconsin annually approved about $400 million to $500 million for construction, which could lead to an estimated 30 million pounds of C&D debris generated each year from state projects alone.
“We recognized this was a significant effort, not only because of the potential to reuse and recycle C&D debris from state projects, but we knew if we could give contractors experience with C&D reuse and recycling and make it a part of the way they do business with the state, it would have the potential to allow them to implement successful C&D recycling on projects throughout Wisconsin and beyond, a result we’re already seeing realized,” said Jenna Kunde, executive director of WasteCap.
The inspiration for the project came from Gov. Jim Doyle’s 2005 Conserve Wisconsin Agenda in which he committed to following green building standards for state buildings, including setting a 50 percent recycling goal for all state projects. In response, the DSF developed a Sustainable Facilities Policy and Guidelines, including construction and demolition debris management guidelines. Every pilot project exceeded the state 50% recycling goal.
At the same time, the DNR contracted with WasteCap, a nonprofit organization that provides waste reduction and recycling assistance for the benefit of business and the environment, to work with the DSF on the implementation of C&D debris recycling on state projects.
“By any measure, this effort has been a success,” said Dave Haley, State Chief Architect and Deputy Director of the Bureau of Architecture and Engineering for the Department of Administration. “Every pilot project exceeded the 50% goal and many of the contractors that recycled on these projects are now recycling on other projects where they are not required to recycle. These projects have an average 84.8 percent recycling rate and have diverted 41,771 tons of material to date—the equivalent of removing 1,500 cars from the road for one year.”
Here are the results:
UW Madison Biochemistry Phase II (Demolition and Construction)
Division of State Facilities Project Manager: Russ VanGilder
Lead Contractor: JH Findorff & Son, Inc.
Recycling rate: 99.12%
Tons diverted to date: 25,592
UW Parkside New Residence Hall Construction
Division of State Facilities Project Manager: Bob Kilgust
Lead Contractor: JP Cullen
Recycling rate: 60%
Tons diverted: 334
UW Stevens Point – Balwin Hall Renovation
Division of State Facilities Project Manager: Larry Earll
Lead Contractor: Ellis Stone
Recycling rate: 90.65%
Tons diverted: 231
UW Superior-Rothwell Student Center Replacement (Demolition and Construction)
Division of State Facilities Project Manager: Angela Zar
Lead Contractor: Immel Construction
Recycling rate: 95.75%
Tons diverted to date: 1,339
UW Whitewater Hyland Hall, Demolition Phase
Division of State Facilities Project Manager: Rex Loker
Lead Contractor: Miron Construction
Demolition Contractor: Zenith Industrial Services
Recycling rate: 97.65%
Tons diverted: 13,694
UW Whitewater Hyland Hall, Construction Phase
Division of State Facilities Project Manager: Rex Loker
Lead Contractor: Miron Construction
Recycling rate: 65.65%
Tons diverted: 581
“I’ve led recycling efforts on a few of my sites now. The specifications and internal practices that we developed in this program were very important to making the recycling work well,” said DSF Project Manager Rex Loker. “I’m glad the state is leading the way in recycling.”
Tim Andrews of Miron Construction, one of the contractors involved in the pilot projects, said the experience has changed the way his company operates. “Miron is now recycling on its job sites. It’s just the right thing to do,” he said. ”It doesn’t seem to cost us more, and it’s not hard after you get used to it. We’ll have no problem complying with the state’s requirements.”
DSF staff and architects from around the state, informed by this on-the-ground experience, developed construction waste management specifications. The Division 1 Construction Waste Management Specification is now online for optional use on state of Wisconsin projects. As of January 1, 2010, DSF will require all projects exceeding $5 million, and all demolition projects, to use the specifications.
Other highlights of the project include:
· DSF staff around the state received both on-the-ground and in-office training on approved construction and demolition recycling methods, allowing them to work with architects and contractors in the future to ensure best management practices.
· A new online system under development, WasteCapTRACE, will simplify recycling reporting for contractors and allow DSF staff to easily view and report individual project diversion rates, and to aggregate those results for all state projects. This system will be used on those projects that are required to recycle and will be available for any other State of Wisconsin project that chooses to use it for ease of reporting.
“We are very pleased with the example this project has set,” said Suzanne Bangert, the DNR Air and Waste Division’s deputy administrator. “The work the DSF and WasteCap have done, with input from DNR staff, has laid the groundwork for the development of robust C&D recycling markets in Wisconsin and trained some of the state’s biggest contractors in recycling best management practices. This project has helped make Wisconsin a national leader in C&D recycling.”
“I’m proud to have been a part of this effort of inter-agency cooperation and leadership,” said Kunde. “The governor provided the vision. The DNR provided the funding and their support. The DOA DSF provided the commitment and the time to make these efforts happen. They all provided leadership – producing a change in how construction and demolition debris will be handled in Wisconsin . It’s significant, and I’m so pleased for both what is being done and the way it was done.”
Resources
Division 1 Construction Waste Management specifications: http://www.doa.state.wi.us/dsf/masterspec_view_new.asp?catid=6&locid=4.
The encouraging results come from a pilot project in which the nonprofit WasteCap Resource Solutions (formerly WasteCap Wisconsin ) worked with the Department of Administration Division of State Facilities (DSF) under a contract with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The goal of the project, which began in 2007, was to develop methods, standards and trained staff to result in successful, measured C&D debris recycling on state projects.
Nationally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates more than 170 million tons of construction and demolition (C&D) debris are generated each year. In Wisconsin , C&D debris—much of which is recyclable—represents a huge proportion of the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream. A 2002 DNR study found that C&D debris made up nearly 30 percent of the MSW stream, with five of the top 10 largest single components of the MSW being materials found in C&D, including untreated wood and shingles as the first and third largest components, respectively.
In recent years, the state of Wisconsin annually approved about $400 million to $500 million for construction, which could lead to an estimated 30 million pounds of C&D debris generated each year from state projects alone.
“We recognized this was a significant effort, not only because of the potential to reuse and recycle C&D debris from state projects, but we knew if we could give contractors experience with C&D reuse and recycling and make it a part of the way they do business with the state, it would have the potential to allow them to implement successful C&D recycling on projects throughout Wisconsin and beyond, a result we’re already seeing realized,” said Jenna Kunde, executive director of WasteCap.
The inspiration for the project came from Gov. Jim Doyle’s 2005 Conserve Wisconsin Agenda in which he committed to following green building standards for state buildings, including setting a 50 percent recycling goal for all state projects. In response, the DSF developed a Sustainable Facilities Policy and Guidelines, including construction and demolition debris management guidelines. Every pilot project exceeded the state 50% recycling goal.
At the same time, the DNR contracted with WasteCap, a nonprofit organization that provides waste reduction and recycling assistance for the benefit of business and the environment, to work with the DSF on the implementation of C&D debris recycling on state projects.
“By any measure, this effort has been a success,” said Dave Haley, State Chief Architect and Deputy Director of the Bureau of Architecture and Engineering for the Department of Administration. “Every pilot project exceeded the 50% goal and many of the contractors that recycled on these projects are now recycling on other projects where they are not required to recycle. These projects have an average 84.8 percent recycling rate and have diverted 41,771 tons of material to date—the equivalent of removing 1,500 cars from the road for one year.”
Here are the results:
UW Madison Biochemistry Phase II (Demolition and Construction)
Division of State Facilities Project Manager: Russ VanGilder
Lead Contractor: JH Findorff & Son, Inc.
Recycling rate: 99.12%
Tons diverted to date: 25,592
UW Parkside New Residence Hall Construction
Division of State Facilities Project Manager: Bob Kilgust
Lead Contractor: JP Cullen
Recycling rate: 60%
Tons diverted: 334
UW Stevens Point – Balwin Hall Renovation
Division of State Facilities Project Manager: Larry Earll
Lead Contractor: Ellis Stone
Recycling rate: 90.65%
Tons diverted: 231
UW Superior-Rothwell Student Center Replacement (Demolition and Construction)
Division of State Facilities Project Manager: Angela Zar
Lead Contractor: Immel Construction
Recycling rate: 95.75%
Tons diverted to date: 1,339
UW Whitewater Hyland Hall, Demolition Phase
Division of State Facilities Project Manager: Rex Loker
Lead Contractor: Miron Construction
Demolition Contractor: Zenith Industrial Services
Recycling rate: 97.65%
Tons diverted: 13,694
UW Whitewater Hyland Hall, Construction Phase
Division of State Facilities Project Manager: Rex Loker
Lead Contractor: Miron Construction
Recycling rate: 65.65%
Tons diverted: 581
“I’ve led recycling efforts on a few of my sites now. The specifications and internal practices that we developed in this program were very important to making the recycling work well,” said DSF Project Manager Rex Loker. “I’m glad the state is leading the way in recycling.”
Tim Andrews of Miron Construction, one of the contractors involved in the pilot projects, said the experience has changed the way his company operates. “Miron is now recycling on its job sites. It’s just the right thing to do,” he said. ”It doesn’t seem to cost us more, and it’s not hard after you get used to it. We’ll have no problem complying with the state’s requirements.”
DSF staff and architects from around the state, informed by this on-the-ground experience, developed construction waste management specifications. The Division 1 Construction Waste Management Specification is now online for optional use on state of Wisconsin projects. As of January 1, 2010, DSF will require all projects exceeding $5 million, and all demolition projects, to use the specifications.
Other highlights of the project include:
· DSF staff around the state received both on-the-ground and in-office training on approved construction and demolition recycling methods, allowing them to work with architects and contractors in the future to ensure best management practices.
· A new online system under development, WasteCapTRACE, will simplify recycling reporting for contractors and allow DSF staff to easily view and report individual project diversion rates, and to aggregate those results for all state projects. This system will be used on those projects that are required to recycle and will be available for any other State of Wisconsin project that chooses to use it for ease of reporting.
“We are very pleased with the example this project has set,” said Suzanne Bangert, the DNR Air and Waste Division’s deputy administrator. “The work the DSF and WasteCap have done, with input from DNR staff, has laid the groundwork for the development of robust C&D recycling markets in Wisconsin and trained some of the state’s biggest contractors in recycling best management practices. This project has helped make Wisconsin a national leader in C&D recycling.”
“I’m proud to have been a part of this effort of inter-agency cooperation and leadership,” said Kunde. “The governor provided the vision. The DNR provided the funding and their support. The DOA DSF provided the commitment and the time to make these efforts happen. They all provided leadership – producing a change in how construction and demolition debris will be handled in Wisconsin . It’s significant, and I’m so pleased for both what is being done and the way it was done.”
Resources
Division 1 Construction Waste Management specifications: http://www.doa.state.wi.us/dsf/masterspec_view_new.asp?catid=6&locid=4.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 11:56 PM
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