Editor's Focus - A Solid Foundation

Building contractors have known about the importance of
having a solid foundation at least since Biblical times, as
alluded to in a parable told by Jesus in the Book of Matthew.

Ultimately, recycling markets need similarly strong foundations to last through good times and bad. The construction and demolition (C&D) materials recycling market segment has seen its foundation strengthen considerably in the past 10 years.

The same contractors who know a thing or two about solid foundations have become convinced that the underlying wisdom is in place to recycle many of the leftover materials and the debris generated at their job sites.

Scrap dealers have long made efforts to harvest the scrap metal from these job sites. Similarly, the aggregates market has become more attuned to the wisdom of crushing concrete for potential recycling as fill or base material or even as an aggregate product in paving applications.

Recyclers are also hard at work looking for the profit opportunities to recycle scrap wood, gypsum drywall and mixed materials hauled away from job sites.

Demolition and construction contractors alike have increasingly looked at the recycling possibilities inherent in their projects as a critical part of the cost estimating process.

Government is also playing a part, as jurisdictions with targeted landfill diversion rates focus on the massive amount of material generated in the construction and demolition industries and their recycling possibilities.

Participants in the growing C&D recycling industry are invited to the C&D World Exhibition & Conference in New Orleans in January 2004.

This annual meeting of the Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA) is now managed by Conference Division of GIE Media Inc., publishers of Recycling Today and Construction & Demolition Recycling (formerly C&D Recycler). Conference organizers from both the CMRA and GIE are putting together a program to appeal to all segments of the growing C&D recycling industry, with the goal of bringing together contractors, recyclers and their suppliers in the best educational and networking environment possible.

If you’re just starting to get involved in this growing segment, please consider attending the January C&D World event. Now, as the U.S. economy appears to be heading toward a rebound, is an ideal time to learn more about a healthy and growing recycling market. More information and a registration brochure can be found on page 86 of this issue.

Some of our readers and advertisers are getting a chance to meet Recycling Today’s newest staff member, Tom Palenschat, this fall. Tom, a Recycling Today regional sales manager, has been on the road attending trade shows and introducing himself to advertisers and other recycling industry suppliers.

We would also like to congratulate DeAnne Toto, who has been promoted from assistant editor to associate editor at Recycling Today Media Group.