Vegas Adventure

Three different trade shows brought recyclers to Las Vegas in March.

Recyclers, demolition contractors and construction contractors all got at least one chance to play the roulette wheel, roll the dice, take in a show or otherwise enjoy Las Vegas in March.

Las Vegas was the setting in late March for the 2002 ConExpo/Con-Agg Show. The show featured concrete crushing machines, mobile material handling equipment and other equipment used by contractors and recyclers that was on display in large quantities.

Just two weeks earlier, more than 2,100 scrap recyclers and their suppliers gathered in Las Vegas for the Annual Convention of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) at the Bellagio Resort and Casino. And just down Las Vegas Boulevard at the same time, members of the National Association of Demolition Contractors (NADC) were meeting at the Mirage Hotel and Convention Center.

Recyclers and demolition contractors were among those attending the largest trade show so far in 2002—ConExpo-Con/Agg, which took place March 19-23 in and around the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Several trade groups also hosted their annual meetings in coordination with ConExpo, including the Construction Material Recycling Association (CMRA), Lisle, Ill. It was the first time the group had held its meeting in coordination with ConExpo, but CMRA executive director Bill Turley said the arrangement worked out well for his members, most of whom had an interest in taking in the equipment exhibits.

Turley and the CMRA held a series of meetings at the Treasure Island Hotel that featured three speakers and a membership meeting to handle organizational matters.

Byron Lord of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) told CMRA members that the administration’s new policy on recycling informs contractors that "the first consideration goes to recycling," and using recycled aggregates. "That’s a big change in the way business has been done," he remarked.

Although engineering considerations will always be reviewed carefully, he said the new FHWA policy touts the economic viability of secondary aggregates and that it "eliminates inappropriate restrictions" that have been used by some contractors as a reason to avoid using crushed concrete and asphalt.

Concerning their future business, Lord told the contractors and crusher operators in attendance to expect a steady stream of highway-related business. He referred to the "aging and heavy use of the current federal highway system," noting that vehicle miles per year on the system increased 100 percent between 1970 and 1995—and the mileage is still climbing, with another 67 percent of growth expected by 2015.

Furthermore, truck commerce is putting a heavy strain on rural stretches of the system, as the average annual vehicle weight load in these areas has increased 550 percent in the past three decades. 

 "There are tremendous amounts of highway that will need to be rehabilitated and re-constructed in the next decade," Lord stated.

While federal funding has been steady, Lord predicted that there is a $60 billion funding shortfall to be made up "to keep pace with the highway system and maintain its present condition."

Crusher operators should benefit, but Lord also remarked that some contractors—and state regulators—will need to change their attitudes toward concrete and asphalt recycling. "Large elements of the contracting community still do not understand [recycling] is a profit center," he stated.

Concerning state governments, he noted, "More than 30 states prohibit recycled materials to be used as a surface material. This has to change. Other states have proven it can work."

Lord sees concrete crushers playing a vital role in the highway rebuilding task, and says both the FHWA and enlightened contractors are viewing existing pavement "not as something to get out of the way, but as the mines of tomorrow."

Paul Ruesch of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region Five office in Chicago gave recyclers a chance to question him about pending regulations, and also presented an overview of how the EPA both issues guidelines and is involved of enforcement of those guidelines.

Ruesch noted that illegal dumping and excessive stockpiling remain the problems that keep haunting the C&D industry. Unfortunately, legitimate recyclers are being categorized both by citizens and regulators as responsible along with those who illegally dump concrete or who stockpile waste wood.

Regarding the stockpiling, Ruesch commented, "some of these folks started with good intentions," but that their misunderstanding of end markets caused them to stockpile and even process material for which there was no home.

The EPA was on the minds of recyclers last year and two years ago when lead-based paint (LBP) regulations were being proposed that would have seriously limited the types of materials recyclers could take in. Those regulations were subsequently tabled, but "two more LBP proposals are in the works from the EPA," he commented. "We’re still worried about people’s exposure to lead," he remarked.

Other issues touched on by Ruesch included the recycling application of Type-X (fiberglass-containing) drywall as a soil amendment. The EPA official noted that the State of Wisconsin has conducted research and concluded that the drywall does not harm the soil, or worms or other creatures inhabiting the soil.

The presence wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) has been another pressing issue for the EPA and recyclers. "It’s a problem," Ruesch remarked. "Keep it from contaminating your mulch loads," he urged recyclers. "If this gets into mulch streams, it can affect us all. People will stay away from it, and competitors will take advantage of it."

Ruesch also urged CMRA members to get involved early on when they read or hear of pending EPA regulations that could affect their businesses. "Take advantage of the official comment period, but also stay involved afterward," he commented.

While a visit from an EPA enforcement officer can be a nervous experience for a business owner, Ruesch gave his own endorsement to the work C&D recyclers are doing. "All of you are doing great things. You are not the enemies of regulators."

Terry Bauer of GreenSeal Environmental, Sandwich, Mass., made a presentation on the benefits of providing a safe workplace. A summary of that presentation can be found starting on page 26 of this issue of C&D Recycler.

As with previous shows, the impressive array of equipment deployed in several outdoor lots was visible from blocks away. Equipment displayed was geared toward those in the construction, aggregates and paving industries, and included concrete and asphalt crushing equipment as well as mobile material handling machines and attachments also used by demolition contractors and scrap recyclers.

The event, held every three years, drew more than 110,000 attendees in 2002, with international attendees accounting for 14 percent of that total.

More than 2,100 exhibiting companies used more than 1.8 million square feet of exhibit space.

Attendees could also attend a variety of educational sessions, some of which covered recycling-related topics. Some of those included:

Money in the Dumpster: Recycling at Construction Sites – The overview of an office building project where recycling of materials was made a priority is the subject of this issue’s cover story (starting on page 12). Also presenting was Ken Patterson of Packer Industries and Patterson Services, Mableton, Ga. Patterson has been using a Packer Industries grinding machine and an accompanying crew to process and recycle materials generated at residential subdivision sites in and around Atlanta. According to Patterson, one Atlanta area builder is saving $1,700 per home by recycling scrap wood, drywall and masonry on site (using many of the materials as ground cover), rather than sending them to a landfill. "This is the beginning of an industry-wide change that will grow over the next few years," Patterson predicted.

What’s Happening in Concrete & Asphalt Recycling – Presenters at this session, moderated by Byron Lord of the Federal Highway Administration, detailed the advantages of using recycled concrete and asphalt. Advantages cited included saving landfill space and working with a product already known to have structural quality. Also detailed were the current hurdles, such as the lack of urban space for recycling-in-place and the lack of control over stockpiles. Presenters, who included Henry Justus of Chesner Engineering, Commack, N.Y., and Steve Marvin of Labelle & Marvin, Santa Ana, Calif., stressed targeting the end uses from the moment a demolition project is started.

How to Handle an OSHA Inspection – George S. Kennedy of the National Utility Contractors Association noted that OSHA inspectors have the right to conduct workplace safety and health inspections without notice. Business owners have rights, including asking the inspector for a warrant. If the owner invites the inspector onto the work site but doesn’t like the direction the inspection is taking, he can withdraw permission for the inspection to continue until the inspector gets a warrant. Kennedy noted that inspectors will typically explain what they are about to do in a pre-inspection conference, and will also summarize what they have found in a closing conference. Citations can be appealed at a hearing, and penalties can be negotiated to a smaller amount.

Recycled Asphalt Shingle Use in Hot Mix Asphalt – Dale Decker, a consultant based in Columbia, Md., contended that the hot mix asphalt industry has long been a supporter of recycling appropriate scrap products into new hot mix asphalt. "Extensive experience has been gained with the recycling of asphalt shingles into hot mix," he remarked. He noted that typically, shingles can compose from five to 10 percent of a hot mix batch. More details on Decker’s presentation will be available in a feature article in an upcoming issue of C&D Recycler. Jim Dykes of Dykes Paving, Doraville, Ga., presented an overview of his company’s successul use of asphalt shingles within hot mix pavement.

Diesel Engine Emissions – Some engine industry insiders are saying pending regulations have created "the most uncertain technical future the diesel engine industry has faced." Speakers from Caterpillar, John Deere and Cummins Engine presented solutions their companies are working on for dealing with the Clean Air Act amendments. Technical adjustments range from retarded timing to the use of electronics and alternative fuels. Steve Justice of Justice & Assoc., Long Beach, Calif., a company involved in air permitting consulting, also spoke.

What to Look for in Equipment Financing – Jim Galecki from John Deere provided information on options such as installment loans, finance leases, operating leases, renting, cash payments, operating lines and product support finance plans. He also provided tips on choosing a lender and the information a business owner will need to provide.

Understanding and Communicating with the Hispanic Workforce – Peter Ruvalcaba of CNA Insurance’s Construction Risk Control Division passed out booklets titled "Construction Spanish," which provided translations for popular construction terms. The books are available through www.constructionspanish.com. Ruvalcaba stressed developing relationships with Spanish-speaking workers and promoting good performers. He also suggested contractors and job managers learn Spanish from workers. Effective contractors promote deserving workers based on performance and leadership potential, with factors to consider including bi-lingual skills, customer skills, offering ideas and solutions and possession of a drivers’ license. Ruvalcaba also suggesting arranging English lessons for workers through their church.

The author is editor of C&D Recycler and can be contacted via e-mail at btaylor@RecyclingToday.com. DeAnne Toto, C&D Recycler assistant editor, also contributed notes to this story.