Residential Construction Waste Management Demonstration and ...

Proactive versus reactive positioning. Firms are discovering that anticipating trends in
environmental issues and policies can result in better working relationships with
government agencies as well as in long-term savings in environmental compliance.
Developing recycled-content building materials can be an important element of proactive
positioning.
"Take-back" policies. As firms investigate recycled-content building materials, some are
finding that a take-back policy can create significant product distinction as well as
mitigate some of the blending and contamination problems that affect recycling
processes.
Reinforce/reassure quality standards. In the past, recycled content has had some
association with reduced product quality. Assuring consumers (builders, homeowners,
and home buyers) that recycled-content products maintain standards of quality while
achieving environmental responsibility is an essential part in the development of
recycled-content products.
Monitor relevant recycling markets. It is certainly not a given that recycled inputs are
less expensive, more available, and in steadier supply than other inputs. However, the
markets for both virgin and recovered material inputs are constantly and rapidly
changing. Manufacturers should make it a point to keep abreast of recycling markets
and their pricing structures and make it known to both brokers handling recycled
materials and solid waste officials involved in the development of recycling markets that
their company has an interest in recycled inputs.
Packaging Waste Reduction
Given that packaging waste represents a large and growing share of residential construction
waste, packaging waste reduction can be cost-effective for both the manufacturer and builder.
Correspondence with major building product manufacturers resulted in the following
recommendations (This letter is included as Appendix D) 17:
Engage a packaging engineer. Some manufacturers are hiring specialists in packaging design
to optimize the use of materials in protecting their products.
Perimeter packaging. Perimeter packaging replaces whole-box corrugated containers with edge
and corner protection. Manufacturers that employ perimeter packaging can reduce total
packaging waste and increase the visibility of their products at the same time.
Use only highly recyclable packaging. To increase the likelihood that required packaging
materials do not contribute to construction waste, manufacturers can avoid the use of difficult-torecycle
mixed (cardboard and foam, for example) and composite packaging materials.
17 All manufacturers received a follow-up telephone call to encourage company response and to increase the
likelihood that appropriate company representatives reviewed the strategies.