The demolition industry thinks it has an image problem. It's afraid that when most people think of demolition experts, they conjure up visions of wrecking balls, massive explosions and piles of debris.
That's just not the reality these days, according to the National Association of Demolition Contractors, which has set off on a campaign, including a 16-page pamphlet and a video, to change the perception that its practitioners are just overgrown boys in search of their next big boom.
More accurate, the association says, is the fact that explosives are used in just a tiny fraction of all demolition jobs. The vast majority use methods -- like giant mechanical crunching jaws -- to combine demolition with recycling to keep rubble out of landfills.
"Many people think you just blow up stuff when you say you work in demolition, although implosions account for less than 1 percent of the work that they do," said Elva Clements, a spokeswoman for NADC, based in Doylestown, Pa. "They don't realize the complexities behind demolition and the level of skill required from workers."
Two Rivers Demolition Co. in Rancho Cordova, for example, was contracted to remove concrete poured into the foundation of Del Webb Community homes in Lincoln Hills. They completed the project without sending a single item to the landfill, according to the company's president, Rodd Palon.
Palon said it's in the contractor's best interest to keep materials from going to the landfill to save money. "The more you recycle, the more you save on disposal fees," he said.
Landfill operators in California generally charge $25 to $50 a ton for demolition waste, depending on the type of debris, those costs can be expensive, according to NADC.
By using a concrete crushing machine, demolition contractors can make more profit while, at the same time, protecting the environment. The crushing machine can recycle concrete for use as aggregate (a base rock used for roadbed) or wood for use as plywood.
Contrary to the belief that demolition work doesn't contribute to the nation's recycling effort, officials said, the industry has been salvaging building elements and materials for reuse way before it was the ecological thing to do.
The California Integrated Waste Management Board reported that 28 percent of the total tonnage of solid wastes comes from construction and demolition (C&D). "One of the biggest changes in the industry has been the awareness of environmental concerns and recycling methods," said Palon, further explaining how recycling is not as exciting as implosion, and therefore receives less public attention.
"Everything else that we do is on the back burner. You don't hear about demolition unless something goes wrong," he said. The NADC campaign is trying to change this attitude, claiming the industry receives either no attention or bad attention, which isn't good for recruiting new hires. Anne Channell, owner of Dynamic Concrete Cutting and Demolition Inc. in Sacramento, said she hasn't noticed the industry getting a bad rap. "When I tell people I'm in demolition, they actually think it's pretty cool," said 37-year-old Channell of the predominantly male industry.
In hopes of catching up with a new generation of contractors early, the NADC will visit college campuses this fall to recruit students who will graduate with a degree in engineering or construction management.
Students generally don't think of the demolition industry as an option, said Clements of the NADC. In a nationwide survey of high school seniors, demolition worker ranked 49th out of 50 in most desirable jobs.
Commercial fisherman was last. In the past 25 to 30 years, the demolition industry has undergone dramatic changes in industry standards, practices, and equipment by participating in what they call the "silent hydraulic revolution." These changes include the use of claws, crunchers, robots and pulverizers to perform complex tasks in a manner more environmentally sound. "Big equipment companies have been able to develop hydraulic excavators that increase production and reduce labor and waste," said Michael Taylor, NADC executive director. "Instead of needing five men for a job, you need just one who knows how to operate the equipment," he said. He and others in the industry hope the public campaign enlightens others about the various facets of demolition work.
"Contractors are very proud of what they do, and few people know that the industry exists. We want to make sure the country is aware of their importance," said Taylor. Sacramento Bee