Urban Mining A Deconstruction Initiative for Erie, Pennsylvania
Proposition Promote deconstruction as an opportunity to add value to the existing demolition industry Environmental Responsibility Economic Opportunity Community Development
What is Deconstruction? The term deconstruction refers to the systematic process of removing material from structures with the intent to reuse the salvaged resources Demolition uses heavy machinery to quickly remove a structure. Much of the material from a demolition is sent to landfills Demolitions tend to recycle easy to separate materials like metals and bricks Building Material Reuse Association estimates that 25% of building material in residential properties can be reused 60-70% of remaining material can be recycled 5-15% will likely need to be sent to landfills
Why Promote Deconstruction? Protect Landfill Space and Safeguard our Natural Resources According to the EPA Advancing Sustainable Materials Management report, the Construction and Demolition (C&D) industry accounted for 534 million tons of landfill waste in 2014 [1] Finite amount of resources Economic Growth and Job Creation Estimated 6-8 deconstruction jobs to every 1 demolition job Cost effective alternative to purchasing new building material (consumers can expect savings equal to or greater than 50% when purchasing used) Reinvest in the community Job growth Environmental responsibility and social trends Architectural salvaged resources finding new homes [1] https://www.epa.gov/smm/sustainable-management-construction-and-demolition-materials
Calculating the Environmental Savings City of Portland, Oregon “Deconstruction Calculator” ReBuilding Center deconstruction of 2,800 square foot residence 1,821 kilowatt-hours of electricity 24 tons of carbon dioxide into the environment 16 tons of waste diverted from landfill 1.2 gallons of water per square foot 3,300 gallons of water saved
Creating Jobs Estimated 6-8 jobs in a full deconstruction to every 1 demolition job Laborers Appraisers Warehouse workers Retail Value-added manufacturing Job training and skills building
Upfront cost of deconstruction Labor-intensive Time-intensive Availability of resources to easily recycle or reuse materials Markets for selling salvaged materials Challenges Economic factors Policies in place Culture of support for waste recycling Community that is unaware of recyclable materials or reusable options
Economics Cost of demolitions and deconstructions can vary greatly In Erie, the average cost to demolish a residential structure is roughly $8,000 Permits Landfill tipping fees Labor and machinery Logistics and transportation costs Full deconstruction will often cost between $15,000 and $24,000 Saving on landfill tipping fees Some of that cost can be recovered through tax deductible donations and in the resale of salvaged material Tax benefits may offset cost differential entirely (cases can vary greatly based on many factors) IRS requires donations to be made to nonprofit organizations. Certified building material appraisal of items in excess of $5,000
Full Demolition 1 Day Brick Scrap Metal
1-Day Skim 4-6 person crew 1 Day + Demolition Brick Scrap metal Architectural salvage Cabinetry Doors and windows Lighting fixtures Hardwood floors
3-Day Skim 4-6 person crew 3 Days + Demolition Plumbing fixtures 50% of wood
Full Deconstruction 4-6 person crew 5-10 Days Salvages 100% of wood Recycles/Reuses roughly 90% of material
Recommendations Educate and provide resources Demolition permits Information about recycling directly on permits Add landfill diversion plan to be submitted along with permit application Educate community about what can be recycled and reused Information pamphlets to be disbursed at hardware stores
Recycling Information Example
Asphalt, Concrete, Brick Land Clearing, Branches Plastic Sheeting/Film Clean Treated Wood Sheetrock/Drywall Cardboard, OCC Tile/Porcelain Wood Scraps Plate Glass Pallets Metal Fiesler West Recycling 1202 West 16th St. (814)454-6609 (Call before dropoff) Habitat for Humanity Restore 903 Parade St. (814)464-8946 Liberty Iron 646 East 18th St. (814)452-4549 Lincoln Metal 1602 Selinger Ave. (814)838-7628 Geosource 1631 East Ave. (814)455-1700 Millfair Compost and Recycling Center 2301 Millfair Rd. (814)833-1111 Green Star Pallet and Recycling 60 Franklin St. Westfield, NY 14787 (716)203-1614 Caflisch Pallet and Wood Services 8596 Knowlton Rd. Clymer, NY 14724 (716)355-4354 USA Gypsum 1368 West Route 897, Denver, PA 17517 (717)335-2561
Landfill Diversion Plans Seattle, WA requires waste diversion plans to be submitted and approved as a part of the demolition permit Required percentages of items for reuse/recycle Minimum 20% building material by weight for reuse (excluding asphalt, brick, concrete) Minimum 50% building material by weight to be recycled (excluding asphalt, brick, concrete) 100% asphalt, brick, and concrete for reuse, recycled, or beneficially used Portland, OR Requires that all buildings constructed prior to 1916 undergo full deconstruction Fines for failing to deconstruct or using machinery that prevents reuse Many other municipalities have implemented similar diversion requirements Cook County, IL Berkeley, CA
Landfill Diversion Plan Example
Developing the Workforce BMRA partnered with Iowa Central Community College to create an 8-week standardized curriculum Knowledge of building materials Planning and scheduling a deconstruction Safety and environmental hazards Tools and application Understanding of full deconstruction versus skim deconstructions OSHA certifications Curriculum includes in-class instruction and hands-on lab experience BMRA is looking to identify partnerships with community colleges
Recommendations Incentivize deconstruction and diversion (instead of mandating it) Increase landfill tipping fees Offer salvage rights separate from demolition permits Expedite permits for deconstruction and sell permits at lower cost Incentivizing through tax benefits Offering information about available non-profit organizations that will reuse or resell materials Use available resources Habitat for Humanity ReStore Partner with Universities Market salvaged building materials online
Recommendations Provide Options Offer different deconstruction options 1-day skim 3-day skim Full deconstruction Recommendations on percentages of recycled and reused items Connect material markets with potential buyers
Questions and Discussions
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