RichMichaelTheMatrix2

IN PROGRESS
 * __CONSTRUCTION WASTE - WASTING IT ALL AWAY__**



Ominously named, this area is an unofficially designated dumping ground for construction jobs in the area. Background Image | Middleground Image | Foreground Image

Sadly enough, concerns with construction waste have only risen due to major issues with pollution and scarcity of raw materials. What would it have been like if we anticipated the consequences of our waste-prone consumer culture?

__THE PROBLEM__ All across the board, which is somewhat reassuring, the numbers show that materials are being wasted at an alarming rate. The reassurance is in that the opportunity is there to save. The problem is ubiquitous; communities and companies alike, are now placed in a position that will allow them to save--if they are willing to take the appropriate measures. Websites such as Oikos and Global Eco, provide crisp and undeniable facts and figures regarding construction waste.

Some may view construction waste an act of carelessness on behalf of the builders and contractors; however, "Attitudes and perceptions of construction workforce on construction waste in Sri Lanka" believes that there is much more to it. Kulatunga and his associates explain that there is a psychological side to man's inclination to act carelessly. Following a series of interviews and questionnaires, the research team concluded that the majority of the laborers involved are quite interested in minimizing the waste; but, they simply don't put forth the effort or do not receive the proper training. The benefits of saving materials versus the time it takes to do so, has not yet been effectively communicated to those in charge. Most likely, their practices will not change drastically until tangible effects to their profits are recorded and discussed.

__THE CHANGE__ Mainstream construction does not seem to be swayed just yet, but there are a few groups surfacing and expressing their concerns as well as offering aid to those interested in reducing their own construction waste. Global Eco, same establishment as mentioned above, not only provides the hard data for the potential waste, but they also offer a service that aids in the recycling of building materials. They provide the possibility for keeping track of the "scraps" and supply guidelines for how to reduce and reuse on-site. Claiming to base their practices on those found in North America, RelY Centres, in the United Kingdom, is a building material reuse center that purchases construction waste and resells it to builders and contractors at a reduced price compared to the prices set by suppliers (Treehugger.com).

__THE SOLUTION - INDIVIDUAL__ Some more direct applications have been spotted throughout the world. In Vancouver, Canada an individual decided to build a shed for his backyard made entirely of construction waste. Cooperating with local construction sites and frequenting scrap yards, he was able to successfully construct his shed without directly spending money for materials. With the help of programs like Freecycling, and the generosity of contractors and scrapyard owners; projects like these could help forge a culture that looks to reuse materials before purchasing newly manufactured materials (Aboutmyplanet.com). Although this narrative is most likely an unedited retelling of a personal experience, some facts and numerical information are also divulged, helping mold the perception that construction is indeed a growing problem and this is a viable method of reducing such a problem.

__THE SOLUTION - GLOBAL__ Initiatives are also being executed at the regional scale. Sustainable Solid Waste Landfill Management in Asia is responsible for setting and enforcing several rules and regulations. They also document their inspections, such as the one conducted in China--highlighting the innovative measures taken as well as problems that are formally requested to be resolved.

__THE SOLUTION - COMMUNAL__ The city of Fremont, California has a page on their website, dedicated to sustainability in their community with regards to development and construction. It describes the benefits of using recycled materials and offers guidelines on how to remodel, build a new home, and even discusses communal living and how to do so while minimizing impacts on the environment. There is an emphasis on what types of materials are used and the guidelines also go about explaining how to deal with the inevitable waste.

__THE SOLUTION - REGIONAL__ Impressive to say the least, the province of Ontario, Canada has gone to great lengths to reduce their construction waste. In 2004, the Ministry of the Environment published a document which stated that the province of Ontario pledged to divert 60% of their waste. It explains the challenges with waste management and where that waste is coming from. Not only that, it also attempts to describe who is producing the waste and where it all ends up at the "end" of its cycle. Following this, an assortment of regulations were submitted that would have had to be adhered to in order to successfully alter the way in which waste was treated. An implementation strategy was then described, at length and finally some closing remarks and questions for the reader to get them thinking on how they could help at the communal or even individual scale (Ontario's 60% Waste Diversion Goal). Along with this set of rigorous guidelines, Ontario has also established a comprehensive website, detailing how to deal with material waste and offering a recycling service for construction materials, similar the Global Eco and RelY Centres.

__THE SOLUTION__ Lastly, U.S. Green Building Council is responsible for publishing and promoting LEED and sustainable design. Within their "LEED Reference Guide for Green Building and Construction," there are several sections dedicated to the mitigation and reduction of construction waste. The more guidelines are followed on a job, the more points are awarded to fulfill requirements that could potential register the project as a LEED project. Such a title is completely voluntary; however, not only are the profits high in the long run, architects and designers who elect to follow LEED protocol find that the rewards are not only monetary, but respect and pride for them and their work develop as well.

__BIBLIOGRAPHY__

"Freecycle." //The Freecycle Network//. The Freecycling Network, 2008. Web. 3 May 2010. . "Green Building." //City of Fremont Official Website//. CivicPlus, n.d. Web. 27 Mar 2010. .

"Green Building Library - Construction Waste." //Oikos//. Iris Communications, n.d. Web. 27 Mar 2010. . Grover, Sami. "Construction Waste Diverted from Landfill." //DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE// 15 Dec 2008: n. pag. Web. 27 Mar 2010. . Kulatunga, Udayangani, Dilanthi Amaratunga, Richard Haigh, and Raufdeen Rameezdeen. "Attitudes and perceptions of construction workforce on construction waste in Sri Lanka." //Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal//. 17.1 (2006): 57-72. Print.

Laird, Duane. "Recycling Construction Waste." //AboutMyPlanet// (2007): n. pag. Web. 27 Mar 2010. . "LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction." //Green Building Design and Construction//. Washington, DC: U.S. Green Building Council, 2009. Print. "Material Recycling." //Green Valley Recycling Corp// n. pag. Web. 27 Mar 2010. .

"Ontario’s 60% Waste Diversion Goal - A Discussion Paper." //Ministry of the Environment//. (2004): 1-36. Print.

"Photo collection : china." //Sustainable Solid Waste Landfill Management in Asia//. SWLF, n.d. Web. 27 Mar 2010. .

"Recycling Construction Waste / Garbage Management System." //Global Eco-Safe Recycling// n. pag. Web. 27 Mar 2010. .