During this time when every penny counts, increasing numbers of companies are looking for ways to improve their expansion projects for increased efficiency. However, many don't realize that some of the most significant savings are hitting the dumpster. As recycling practices become much easier to implement onsite, builders and businesses alike are realizing the monetary gains that can be achieved through more thoughtful approaches to waste disposal.

Plan The Work

According to the EPA, building-related construction and demolition debris totals approximately 160 million tons per year, accounting for nearly 26 percent of total non-industrial waste generation in the United States. Construction waste is inevitable whether or not a demolition phase is involved, but by gaining a comprehensive understanding of your waste disposal, you can take advantage of opportunities to increase your bottom line.

Part of a new project bid from any construction firm should include taking into account the site's waste disposal needs at every phase of development - from demolition to construction to installation to occupancy. This establishes recycling program baselines and identifies prospects for significant savings.

Several factors play a role in how much waste can be anticipated. For instance, new construction projects will typically require less waste disposal during the early foundation stages of the building; then once the interior build out begins; the volume of waste will grow rapidly. On the other hand, demolition projects tend to have very heavy, large waste materials requiring near constant rotation of multiple containers from the site to landfills or recycling centers.

The biggest mistake many contractors make is not taking into consideration site logistics of the waste disposal plan. Making decisions on the placement of dumpsters on site, how many and what type of containers are needed, and the equipment needs in accessing trash and recycling containers can be critical in maintaining a safe and clean construction site.

Crowded sites may not be able to fit several dumpsters, which means single stream or co-mingling bins may be a good option. Builders must consider the subcontractors' access to the containers from multiple locations on the job site. The space allotted to retrieve the container is also often overlooked in the site planning process, creating many headaches for the on-site construction crew. There can be significant costs and time involved in repositioning the container location, so contractors should confer with a waste disposal agency early in the planning process.

Often contractors choose the cheapest rate without considering the added value of slightly more expensive haulers. Keep in mind that certain haulers may only accept specific types of commodities or be tied to specific routes. With fuel and landfill charges fluctuating, it is also important contractors have these costs built into their waste disposal pricing to create a more accurate budget.

By consulting with a waste service provider during the bidding process, builders can take advantage of many other resources available during the construction phase, such as help in the construction of appropriate waste structures, benchmarking the environmental and monetary returns, and providing reporting documents during construction. These may help in meeting certain credits for sustainable milestones or certifications, such as LEED. Without a true evaluation by an expert, you may miss out on significant savings.

Work The Plan

Many site managers are concerned about the space requirements necessary for access to additional recycling equipment. Waste services leaders can provide an audit to review the current waste stream, identify recyclable materials, and distinguish potential savings that could mitigate those concerns. They can create a plan that meets the construction manager's space and budget.

More importantly, a waste hauling consultation may identify certain materials that the contractor is not aware could be recycled, such as shingles, asphalt, dirt, rock or brick. Reprocessing many of these materials can actually provide a gain in revenue. Or the waste services provider may be able to point out areas where additional recycling may not have been considered. For example, a small three to six yard commercial dumpster could be staged on many sites for the recycling of office papers and materials used in the administration trailer.

Construction managers are also finding recycling to be much easier now that containers are mixed use, meaning they accept all commodities together. These containers are brought to a single recycling facility, which will sort the contents for reprocessing. This eliminates the administrative time necessary for a laborer to sort the materials on site and lessens site space that would be required for multiple source-separated containers.

Education is key. Construction managers should beware of the fact that some waste management firms retain a percentage of a client's recycling rebate, cutting into your savings. Responsible haulers will put new customers in direct contact with the recycling agent to ensure they receive the full benefit of participating.

General contractors and businesses should work with their waste disposal agencies to find options to maximize the volume and type of materials that a site is able to reprocess, as well as selecting recycling centers that require lower fuel consumption in transportation. Then builders must educate everyone on site, including subcontractors, about the recycling efforts in effect and clearly communicate the program's rules and requirements.

While the initial catalyst to implement a construction recycling program may be returns in sustainable certification credits or environmental protection, the resulting impact on an enterprise's bottom line can often be just as compelling to an expanding company.

David Bahrenburg is the district manager of IESI Missouri and can be reached at 636-321-2100 or dbahrenburg@iesi.com. IESI is a national waste disposal and recycling services provider.