Waste reduction final report -4 - Test Input

2. Benchmark
Based on the data from various sources throughout U.S. summarized in previous section one
can establish benchmarks for better, good and current practices for waste generation on a site
for residential or non-residential buildings. Again, two approaches have been recommended,
one based on waste per unit area of building under construction or demolition and the other
based on weight per capita per year. The Franklin and Associates data of 21.5 Kg/m 2 of
waste generation for residential and 19.5 Kg/m 2 for non-residential construction were used as
current practice waste per unit area of building. Similarly for demolitions waste the Franklin
and Associates estimate of 550 Kg/m 2 for residential and 850 Kg/m 2 for non-residential
buildings were adopted as current practices. Reducing the current practice numbers by 25% is
considered to be a good practice and any waste reduction beyond that is a better practice.
Benchmark for the second approach is based on weight per capita per year. The average per
capita rate of 1.07 Kg per day or 390 Kg per year is used as the current practice. Reducing
the current practice rate by 25% is considered to be a good practice and any waste reduction
beyond 25% is a good practice. Tables 5 and 6 show these benchmarks. The second approach
will give large communities such as counties and local municipalities a more practical
number to compare with as it applies to the total population of a particular county or state.
Table 5 Benchmarks of Kg/m 2 for current, good and better practices
BETTER GOOD CURRENT
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
RESIDENTIAL Construction < 16 16-21 22
Demolition < 410 410-540 550
PRACTICECE
NON- RESIDENTIAL Construction < 15 15-19 20
Demolition < 640 640-840 850
Table 6 Benchmarks of Kg per Capita per year for current, good and better practices
BETTER GOOD CURRENT
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
C&D WASTE PER CAPITA PER YEAR < 290 290 - 380 390
3. Policies, Strategies and Legislation
Policies
Although the federal government has largely avoided any effort to set construction and
demolition waste recycling rate targets, many states and smaller jurisdictions have active
programs that encourage construction and demolition waste recycling.
1. In Portland, Oregon the city requires job-site recycling of rubble (concrete/asphalt), landclearing
debris, corrugated cardboard, metals and wood on all construction and
demolition projects with a permit value exceeding $50,000. This is accomplished by
requiring a complete site plan prior to permit issuance.
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