C&D Recycling

Demolition Contractors

Encounter LEED Process In the architectural, engineering and construction process, the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification process has had a significant impact on the way people in those professions go about their work when a building owner is seeking LEED status.

Demolition contractors also have encountered the LEED system, particularly when dismantling or demolishing a structure that will house a building seeking LEED certification.

At a session at the 2010 National Demolition Association Annual Convention, which took place at The Mirage in Las Vegas March 20-23, C&D recyclers Jason Haus of Dem-Con Cos. LLC, Shakopee, Minn., and John Lloyd of Lloyd’s Construction Services Inc., Savage, Minn., were joined by salvaged materials broker Nathan Benjamin of Planet ReUse, Kansas City, Mo., in providing an overview of LEED and its effect on the demolition process.

Lloyd noted that building owners could obtain LEED points that pertain to the handling of materials generated on the job site in several ways. These can include the selection of a “brownfield” property site and the proper handling of contaminated soil, but the most relevant to demo contractors involves the handling of scrap materials generated at a job site.

Haus said achieving a high recycling rate was often dependent on the state of regional end markets for materials beyond metal, concrete and wood. While in some cities gypsum drywall could be fairly easily recycled, in others no nearby markets existed.

Benjamin said some of the most profitable paybacks contractors can yield occurred when machinery, fixtures or structural beams could be salvaged and sold for re-use.

Conference Targets Profitable Recycling of C&D Material

The C&D Recycling Forum, a new event organized by Construction & Demolition Recycling magazine, a sister publication of Recycling Today, in conjunction with the National Demolition Association, will take place Oct. 3-5 in Baltimore.

This event, developed in conjunction with a consulting firm to the industry, Gershman, Brickner & Bratton (GBB), Fairfax, Va., focuses on how industry and governments can maximize C&D materials opportunities and diversion through efficient operations and the maximization of material values.

Ideally suited to demolition contractors, general and road contractors, waste haulers, solid waste and recycling officials, scrap dealers and recyclers and those already recycling C&D materials, the event’s compressed schedule of information-packed educational sessions and workshops delivers tremendous value.

The event also includes a safety workshop preceding the conference.

An early bird registration fee applies to conference registrations received prior to Aug. 5, 2010. Registration includes access to the educational sessions as well as to the exhibit hall.

Additional information can be found at www.CDRecycler.com/Forum.