Two Agencies Push Recycling Of C&D Waste

The Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland (Oregon) and Metro Regional Environmental Management are joining forces to help promote recycling of construction site debris in the area.

The relationship is designed to educate builders on the benefits to recycling in hopes of reducing the amount of construction material that ends up in area landfills.

By 2005, Metro would like to reduce the amount of construction waste by over 50,000 tons, said Kevin Curry, director of Communications and Public Relations for the HBA.

One step the HBA will be doing is distributing a recycling toolkit that the Metro Agency has put together.

Other steps the HBA will take to promote the recycling of C&D waste will include putting regular columns in the association’s newsletter, holding occasional educational meetings in the area, as well as providing tips and techniques to its members on how to boost the recycling of material.

The Home Builders Association's goal is to show that education-based efforts are preferable to increased regulations or new government ordinances. The HBA also hopes to help educate Metro on the challenges builders face in meeting certain goals and requirements.

Builders can divert most of their recyclable material into recycling programs for less than the cost of disposal, said Bryce Jacobson, Construction Industry Recycling Project Manager for Metro Regional Environmental Management.

We are working cooperatively with the HBA and its members to provide several easy to use 'tools' to help builders identify and implement cost effective improvements to the way they manage construction debris.