Reducing Construction and Demolition Waste

40 pages; $8.00 postpaid from the Center for Resourceful Building Technology, P.O. Box 100, Missoula, MT 59806; 406/549-7678.

This latest addition to the CRBT Technical Series is a treasure-trove of practical tips and suggestions for minimizing C&D waste through careful planning, material reuse, and recycling. The report begins by providing sobering statistics from various sources on the quantity of waste generated on a typical job site, and what comprises that waste. Next is an innovative review of how different participants in a building project can play a role in reducing waste generation: owner, designer, general contractor, subcontractors, and suppliers. Overall project planning relative to waste generation and specific design strategies to minimize waste are next presented, followed by details on contract language for recycling and waste reduction, and tips on materials ordering. Most of the rest of the booklet is devoted to specifics on reusing materials on the job site, including discussion of salvaging materials from demolition projects and then recycling those materials that cannot be reused. A short list of reuse centers (where salvaged materials can be dropped off or purchased) and sources of further information are provided. This small-format booklet would have benefited from better graphics, but it should prove useful to designers, contractors, and building project clients.