C&D Recycling Project Receives Grant

Alliant Energy Corp. received a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for a project that focuses on recycling as much construction and demolition waste generated through the building of a new headquarters. Alliant Energy is a holding company that provides energy products and services, as well as industrial services.

The company, which began construction of a new headquarters in Madison, Wisc., is working with Opus North Corp., Green Valley Disposal and WasteCap Wisconsin, on the  project. Opus is the the design build firm; Green Valley is the on-site hauler;and WasteCap was brought in to develop, monitor and measure results of a reuse and recycling program for the building site.

As part of the project, all costs and quantities of C&D debris generated, reused and recycled are being tracked so other companies can learn from the project. The building is scheduled to be complete next spring.

Jim Shebesta, project manager for the construction project, notes that the “recycling program is a success so far – 50% by weight of the debris from the site has been recycled. Alliant Energy’s building project will demonstrate techniques to achieve diversion, begin to build capacity for construction material recycling in the area and produce educational materials to expand construction-material recycling statewide.”

The subcontractors are separating wood, cardboard, office paper, metal, cans, bottles, and clean fill for recycling.

The subcontractors are going beyond recycling by reducing and reusing waste. All suppliers are contacted to review their corporate policy on recycling and reuse of their products at the end of their useful life. All suppliers are being asked to use materials and processes to maximize reuse.

The recycling program is a time-based management approach, meaning that the recycling containers are on the building site only when the majority of that material is being generated.“Just in time delivery of special boxes for waste can result in waste construction materials being source separated and the individual materials being low in contaminants,” according to J. Walter Spear, solid waste consultant.

Current financial figures indicate that the recyclables will be recycled at less than the cost of trash disposal. Actual costs will be measured at the completion of the program.

Jenna Kunde, WasteCap’sexecutive director, expressed caution about the success of the program: “So far, everything is going great. However, it’s early in the building process,and success will depend on the builders and subcontractors continuing to be as committed as they’ve been.”