Wasteshed Programs for a 2% Recovery Rate Credit

Construction and Demolition Debris Salvage Program with Depots

(OAR 340-090-0045(2)(b)(A)): Operate construction and demolition debris salvage programs with depots.

What is Construction and Demolition Debris?

A waste composition study done by Metro (the regional government for the Portland metropolitan area), in 1994, determined that nearly 26% of the region’s disposed waste is generated by construction (including remodeling) and demolition debris (C&D) of structures such as residential and commercial buildings and roadways – approximately 256,000 tons out of a total of about 1,000,000 tons. Much of this waste is easily reused or recycled, so it makes sense to target it for waste reduction and recycling.

In this web page we focus on reuse.

Some of the major components, not all of which are reusable, of the Metro C&D debris wastestream are:

• Wood, 38%
• Yard debris and land clearing debris - 13%
• Cardboard - 13%
• Roofing - 10%
• Roofing - 10%
• Metal - 9%
• Drywall - 8%
• Windows, doors, cabinets, flooring, light and bathroom fixtures.

What is a C & D "Salvage Program with Depots"?

A Salvage Program with Depots has, at a minimum, one established, wasteshed-sponsored depot where people can drop off or purchase, used building materials. The materials are made available for reuse rather than being recycled or landfilled. The depot can be run by a for-profit or a not-for-profit organization, by a public agency or a private group.

A Successful C&D Salvage Depot has:

• A detailed Business Plan. Research which materials have a resale value and which don’t. Where will the materials come from? What is the local market for reused building materials? How big is it?
• A Promotion and Marketing Plan. Include written information for local construction and demolition contractors, explaining what materials are accepted and how they should be prepared. Make sure they know about the program. E.g. have information such as brochures or fact sheets available at the local agency issuing building permits. Ideally the local contractors are involved in the development of this program. They will be the principal providers of salvageable materials.
• An Education Campaign. Work cooperatively with the jurisdictions in the region to ensure the implementation of a regular, ongoing promotion and education campaign about C&D reuse opportunities, developments, and resources, that reaches out to industry, trade organizations, and the public. For more information on Education Campaigns, see our fact sheet on "Reuse Education Campaign".
• A Good Location. The depot needs to be conveniently located, e.g. next to a landfill or transfer station.
• Convenient hours. The depot should have regular, publicized hours and should be staffed whenever the adjacent landfill or transfer station is open - otherwise it will be inundated with unwanted material.
• Financial Incentive. Make sure you clarify whether you will pay, charge, or provide tax credits in exchange for the materials and be sure to charge less to accept material than the local disposal option.

Referrals to Existing Programs

• CART’M started a salvage depot at the Manzanita transfer station serving North Tillamook County on 12/3/98. Depot location: Manzanita Transfer Station - Recycling Center. PO Box 122, Manzanita, OR 97130-0122.
• BRING Recycling, Eugene. Not-for-profit. Depot location: 86641 Franklin Blvd., Eugene.
• The Rebuilding Center, Portland. Not-for-profit. Contact: Shane Endicott at 503-221-3193, Fax: 503-295-7984. Depot location 2015 NW 23rd (at Vaughn), Portland.
  • www.rebuildingcenter.com
• Rejuvenation, Inc., Portland. For-profit. Accepts pre-1940 materials only. Store location: 1100 SE Grand Ave., Portland.
  • Web site: www.rejuvenation.com.
• Urban Ore, Berkeley, CA. For-profit. Contact: Dan Knapp, President, at 510-559-4454, Fax: 510-528-1540. Depot location: 1333 Sixth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710.
• The Loading Dock, Baltimore, MD. Not-for-profit. Contact: Leslie Kirkland, Executive Director, at 410-558-3625, Fax: 410-558-3633. The Loading Dock is the first successful, self-sufficient, not-for-profit depot of reusable building material in the nation. To respond to many requests for technical assistance, they wrote a "How to Manual". For ordering information. Depot location: 2 North Kresson Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
  • Check the web site: www.loadingdock.org

Sources for More Information

• Resource Recycling, Steve Apotheker. "Managing construction and demolition materials," Aug. 92.
• Biocycle, Zev Kalin, "Canada targets C&D debris," Jan. 91.
• "1998 Metro Construction Site Recycling Guide," compiled by Bryce Jacobson who is an excellent resource and can be reached at 503-797-1663.
• California Integrated Waste Management Board, Construction and Demolition Project. Contact Mark Fong at 916-255-2495.
  • Web site: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ConDemo/.
• Douglas County had a market and feasibility study done for a "Reuse Operation Focusing on the Sale and Distribution of Used Building Materials" in June 1997. The County decided not to go forward with the plan, but the study is available for other wastesheds to use.
• "Making Source Reduction and Reuse Work in Your Community. A Manual for Local Governments" by the National Recycling Coalition, Inc., 1998. Phone: 703-683-9025, Fax: 703-683-9026.
• "The Official Newsletter of the Reuse Development Organization, Inc." ReDO’s motto is: "making more reuse happen faster".
  • Web site: www.redo.org.
• "Used Building Material Association" for North America and Canada (Manitoba). Contact Derell Keating at 204-947-0848.
• "Oregon Remodelers Association". Contact Linda Shaeffman, Executive Director, at 503-257-9119.

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