Shifting focus of waste from liability to resource: Construction association's new waste-management guide raises the bar for construction projects across the nation. (Guest Columnist).

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has recently published a guide on a very "trashy" topic. At least, we used to call it trash! Currently, waste within the construction and demolition industry amounts to approximately 15 million tonnes per year, while clients are expecting the industry to take responsibility to reduce their waste. As the voice of Canada's largest industry, the CCA, through CCA 81: A Best Practice Guide to Solid Waste Reduction, is emphasizing and affecting the shift in the perception of waste as a liability to that of waste as a resource.

By representing a resource-efficient waste management approach as current best practice, it raises the bar for what one may expect to see on construction projects across the country. The next step, according to CCA chair Shirley Westeinde, is. to get the guide out to and in use by the membership. In the works is a nationwide road show of sorts, involving presentations and workshops to regional construction association members which will introduce the guide and the steps to effective waste management on site.

After reading CCA 81, Harold Lindstrom, manager of the Thunder Bay Construction Association, says that the "document will be of good value to our members because it will give our small contractors a good start and the larger ones will have a good checklist."

The issue that surfaces most frequently in Northern Ontario involves the availability and proximity of reuse and recycling facilities. Until more facilities exist to process materials, the emphasis must be put on the reduction of waste in the early stages of a project, thereby minimizing the amount of material going to landfill. Lindstrom notes that "metals are the only economical recycle material" in the north, and agrees that reduction should be the first concern.

Details on the guide

The main objectives of the guide are to address resource-efficient waste management in the construction, renovation and demolition (CRD) industry and to offer useful guidance to practitioners when developing and implementing waste management strategies on their projects.

The guide provides the necessary background to waste management in the CRD industry, including an understanding of the environmental, as well as the financial benefits. For instance, responsible waste management practices can result in reduced hauling and tipping fees, reduced materials costs, increased productivity (more efficient use of materials), and potential revenue generated from the sale of used equipment and materials after demolition.

An overview of the regulatory framework and guidelines shows that while there are few pieces of legislation that directly regulate waste management, there' are some that do influence construction practices. The province has licensed landfills and has regulations governing the storage, handling and transportation of hazardous materials, and the province of Ontario has the 3Rs waste management regulations which affect all construction or demolition projects of 2,000 square metres or more. Some regions and landfills limit or prohibit disposal of certain materials in a landfill. Federal acts such as the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act are also outlined within the guide.

The considerations and components necessary for an effective waste management strategy are identified. Potential waste management opportunities for several common building materials are listed. Checklists of options for reducing, reusing, recycling and disposal are included, along with such considerations as landfill bans and potential for on-site processing. Project scope and size, site constraints etc. are also discussed. Waste audits, waste management workplans and material source separation programs are all discussed as essential components of an effective waste management program.

CCA 81 is relevant not only to building contractors and project managers, but to the construction industry as a whole. All members of the project team are experiencing an increased awareness of the need for responsible waste management. Policies and expectations having to do with waste management are being incorporated into project specifications and some project teams even engage a waste management consultant to develop and administer that component of the project. Addressing the issue of reduction at the start of the project will require "a concerted effort by architects and engineers..." says Lindstrom.

CCA 81 stresses that project team members must have a firm understanding of, and agree upon, waste management expectations and objectives. This process can start as early as the bidding stage where contractors may be asked to submit a waste management plan and materials source separation program along with the tender price.

CCA 81 should not be viewed as a performance standard, but rather as a practical resource when developing a CRD waste management strategy, providing the contractor with the tools to set and/ or meet the objectives of waste management oriented projects.

Effective waste management skills benefit everyone. On site, the approach outlined in the guide can reduce waste, save materials and money and keep a site clean and organised to reduce health and safety risks. For a business, it can improve project management, productivity and client relations while potentially saving money. For everyone, an effective waste management approach means reduction in the amount of waste sent to landfill and a reduced strain on the environment.

Article written by Maria Drake and Lynda Hansen, with by dEsign consultants inc. in Ottawa.

by dEsign consultants inc. recently joined DST Consulting Engineers, an engineering and construction company based in northwestern Ontario.