C&D News

GETTING THE LEAD OUT

Even though lead-based paint has not been on the market for some time, its legacy lives on. Along with the real estate industry, demolition contractors are among those who must continue to comply with new and existing regulations concerning lead paint.

In late 1998, the U.S. EPA introduced for review and public comment a new draft regulation concerning the handling of debris containing lead paint. As drafted, the regulation contains several points that are  drawing comments.

“It declares that architectural components with lead-based paint cannot be recycled,” according to Michael Taylor, executive director of the National Association of Demolition Contractors, Doylestown, Pa. In addition to affecting the waste wood stream, the regulation would also put a crimp in the concrete recycling industry. “Think about the volume of concrete that has lead-based paint in it or on it,” says Taylor, referring to large, older industrial and commercial buildings from which concrete is often recovered and recycled. “We have concerns about this huge sub-industry of concrete crushing that would be affected,” he adds.

Taylor is hopeful that his organization and other trade groups can convince the EPA to reexamine the wisdom of burying the large stream of materials that could otherwise be recycled. “We’re talking about an infinitesimal amount of lead in a large amount of concrete,” he notes. “Plus, as sub-base, it’s usually under several inches of other material. It’s not likely to pose a risk to the public health and the environment,” Taylor adds.

Bob Brickner, senior vice president of the consulting group Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Fairfax, Va., believes that if the regulation were adopted, it would be a bad deal for many in the construction and demolition industries. “Lead-based paint tends to be in old buildings in large cities, and C&D landfills tend not to be located in these urban areas,” he says. “So you’ll have to take C&D debris further, depending on where the C&D landfills are and what states want to do with it. This could increase the costs to haul and manage the material.”

Taylor notes that “there is a scrap metal exemption” within the regulation. “We know the scrap industry had to lobby to get that exemption; we’re prepared to do that for concrete,” he states.

Those in the concrete recycling segment had an initial comment period that lasted until April 2 to send letters and faxes to the EPA. “There are a lot of big concrete crushing companies that need to let the EPA know the trouble this can cause,” says the NADC’s Taylor.

N.Y. FACILITY ACCEPTS DRYWALL AND SHINGLES

A facility has opened near Albany, N.Y. that accepts waste drywall and roofing shingles as recyclable materials.

Construction Debris Recycling Inc. (CDR), Colonie, N.Y., is using innovative technology to sort the often-landfilled materials to re-process them into agricultural soil additives, construction material, manufacturing ingredients and odor and spill control materials.

CDR general manager Ken Mogul says the plant is the first of its kind in New York state, and that it uses a process developed over a four-year span by two collaborating companies: waste hauler and recycler Good Riddance Inc. of Schenectady, N.Y. and equipment maker Andela Tool & Machine of Richfield Springs, N.Y.

“We are taking material that traditionally has had no value and transforming it into saleable product—while creating good local jobs and doing the right thing for the environment,” says Mogul of the venture.

While CDR is initially staying within the region to find end markets, Mogul notes that the company is sited on a rail spur and “could easily ship to the middle of the U.S.” if demand dictates.

The company is charging about 35% less than competing landfills to accept material, according to Mogul. He notes that it can be tough to change the habits of people who are used to going to the landfill, “but price tends to have its own convincing power.” Mogul has also publicized CDR through press releases and direct mail pieces.

CDR accepts drop-offs of material from the public, and also supplies containers for on-site disposal at construction and demolition sites. Revenue comes from the tipping fee charged for accepting the material and from sale of the processed products.

INVESTMENT RECOVERY IS TOPIC OF MAY MEETING

The Investment Recovery Association, Mission, Kan., is making the “Global Marketplace and the Investment Recovery Professional” the theme for its next trade show.

The group’s Semi-Annual Conference and Trade Show is scheduled for May 17-19 in Williamsburg, Va. Conference activities include presentations on the Internet, dealing with global markets, and the Y2K issues that may affect investment recovery operations.

For those just becoming familiar with the concept of investment recovery, there will be a seminar called “IR-101,” which is an introduction to the process of investment recovery and its benefits to various companies.

 The Investment Recovery Association, which contains members from more than 200 corporations, studies ways in which companies can recoup the maximum value for assets they no longer need by systematically identifying and reusing, reselling, refurbishing, recycling, donating or otherwise disposing of such assets. The organization estimates that between 70% and 90% of every dollar generated by investment recovery activity is profit.

The trade show portion of the conference will feature representatives from companies in the environmental, used equipment and machinery, data systems, brokerage, demolition, auctioneering, scrap and precious metals industries.