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Construction and Demolition Landfill
Recovery/Reuse Site Model
Minnesota public
and private landfill operators are extending the life
of their construction and demolition (C&D) cells
by setting aside materials for reuse or recycling. A
cooperative venture between landfills in Becker and
Clay Counties resulted in the reuse of 89 tons of dimensional
lumber and other construction items in 2003.
At a recovery/reuse site either facility
staff or haulers separate items for customers to reuse.
Items set aside for reuse at landfills are quickly taken
by potential users. Materials such as concrete can be
accumulated until there is enough to crush for sale
or reuse on-site.
Use this four-step model to develop
a recovery/reuse site at your facility.
- Evaluate items for reuse
- Review operating permit
- Set up reuse area
- Educate customers
Step 1: Evaluate
Items for Reuse
Use your best judgement about what could be reused or
recycled. Items in demand for reuse at some facilities
include:
- Cinder/concrete blocks and bricks
(whole and unmortared)
- Construction materials (unused)
like sheetrock, shingles, ceiling and floor tiles
- Dimensional lumber
- Doors
- Fixtures (cabinets, ductwork,
shelving)
- Flooring
- Wood beams
Some materials that can not be reused
as their original form can be separated and accumulated
until enough is available for processing and reuse on
site for landfill maintenance.
- Brush, scrap wood, untreated lumber—grind
and use as mulch or burner fuel
- Cinder/concrete blocks and bricks
(broken or mortared)—crush for aggregate and
use on roads
- Shingles—shred and place on
roads to control dust
Step 2: Review
Operating Permit
A modification of your operating permit may be needed
before you begin processing material. Check with your
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency staff contact. Additional
storage standards, stormwater and soil water testing
may be required as part of your permit.
Step 3: Set
Up Reuse Area
Space availability and the conditions of your operating
permit will determine where to locate items available
for reuse.
Minnesota landfills have taken various
approaches to sorting and storing items. The more comprehensive
reuse programs have structures to hold materials and
protect them from weather.
Storage sheds. If available,
storage sheds offer the most protection from the weather.
Concrete bays. Concrete bays
can be used to accumulate materials for processing and
help contain runoff.
Reuse area. Use fence poles
or posts to separate materials for collection. Items
like windows and doors can be leaned against posts to
help keep them clean.
If structures are not possible, establish
separate areas to pile materials for reuse. Haulers
can drop loads off at the appropriate spot.
Facilities whose staff cannot sort
items for reuse have taken two approaches. Haulers are
directed to areas with signage to show where items should
be placed. Or, when landfill staff visually check loads
coming in, they look for reusable materials and ask
the hauler to put them in the appropriate reuse area.
Step 4: Educate
Customers
Liability is always a concern. One facility posted a
sign at the reuse area that described the terms of use
and had a liability waiver. Another landfill had clients
sign a waiver form similar to ones used at a county
household hazardous waste site. Contact MnTAP for sample
waiver language.
Good signage is needed to direct haulers
to where specific materials should be put. Signs can
also let people know about items available for reuse.
Key to the success of a recovery/reuse
site is working with your regular customers. Explain
to them why you are separating materials for reuse.
After one landfill operator explained the system to
its biggest customer that company changed the way it
loaded trucks at job sites to make unloading and separating
at the landfill easier.
Get customer buy-in by educating customers
about any incentives that your facility offers for using
the recovery/reuse site. One site estimates the value
of items set out for reuse and subtracts that from the
load charge.
For More Information
MnTAP has a variety of technical assistance services available to help Minnesota businesses implement industry-tailored solutions that maximize resource efficiency, prevent pollution, increase energy efficiency, and reduce costs.Our information resources
are available online. Or, call MnTAP at 612.624.1300
or 800.247.0015 from greater Minnesota
for personal assistance.
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