Three Tips to Target Zero Waste Construction
Written By Kimberly Loscher
4 min read
Reduce, reuse, recycle. But what about zero waste? Our landfills are filling up, construction waste will multiply in volume as we continue to build, and updated recycling standards are making it increasingly more challenging and expensive to recycle materials. We must shift focus from the latter options of reusing and recycling and direct our focus to reduction, especially in regards to construction and demolition waste. This blog post will explain what it means to target zero waste construction and offer three key tips to work towards that goal.
Zero waste is defined by a few different frameworks. The TRUE Zero Waste certification defines zero waste as achieving “an average of 90 percent or greater overall diversion from landfill, incineration (waste-to-energy) and the environment,”. Similarly, the International Living Future Institute’s Net Positive Waste imperative sets minimum diversion requirements by material type with a focus on beneficial reuse.
So, how do we get to zero and net positive?
Tip #1: Seek opportunities during the design phase
Prioritize materials and waste management as part of the early discussions for the overall design of the project. Set goals to incorporate reused and salvaged materials as well as targets for diversion from landfill. These discussions should involve as many project partners as possible during early phases of planning. Think outside of the box! Waste is part of a larger ecosystem. Can waste from other industries or local salvage opportunities be reused for nonstructural or artistic elements? Also, plan for waste reduction by removing requirements for surplus material procurement in the specifications and include reusable packaging requirements. Going a step further, design for future disassembly of the project to reduce end of life waste.
Check out Living Building Challenge Case Studies and the Kendeda Building at Georgia Tech for innovative examples to inspire planning for zero waste.
Tip #2: Partner for Innovation
Build a strong foundation by developing a tailored materials management plan. Identify all materials, associated wastes, and partners to divert the wastes from landfill. This will help the team anticipate potential opportunities and challenges. I can’t emphasize this enough: pick the best available partners for the project by matching service capabilities with project goals and material service needs!
Be innovative with beneficial reuse partners to demonstrate possibilities. What are the difficult to recycle materials, such as insulation or foam board, for the project? Are there any local manufacturers that will take back new and clean materials for closed loop recycling? What about opportunities for composting? Perhaps an opportunity to send ground up materials to local farmers for reuse? Or contracting with municipal services to collect food waste separately to avoid bin contamination?
Most importantly, partnering may also involve reaching across competitive lines. Building Green hosts a peer network called Sustainable Construction Leaders where sustainability teams can share resources and innovative ideas. Additionally, the sustainability teams from five General Contractors in the San Francisco Bay Area have founded a group called the Bay Area Sustainable Construction Leaders. The cohort has a mission statement that focuses on using collective power to catalyze action towards net zero-impact construction. Most recently, the group conducted a deep dive into the regional opportunities and challenges to achieve zero waste and will be sharing their findings publicly later this year.
Tip #3: Execute!
More often than not, an excellent plan is developed for a project and the right partners are in place, but the waste targets fail to reach the full potential during execution. Foremost, set the site up for success through site logistics! Ensure that both the field leadership and the material/waste partners are included in the discussion to identify the best places to both collect debris and protect waste items that can be salvaged for reuse or donation. It’s paramount that the locations chosen make sense. Both from a worker convenience perspective and a workflow perspective. This is a very simple detail in theory, but can be helpful or detrimental to goals. Also, keep in mind that you do not need a staging location identified for each material stream for the duration of the project; only the material wastes that will exist during each phase. Next, site logistics is followed by training all employees on the materials management plan. Which materials have been flagged for salvage? Which materials will be site separated? Lastly, and most importantly, monitor and adjust the materials management plan as the project progresses.
Bonus Tip:
Share your successes and struggles widely! Waste is part of a larger ecosystem. If you succeed at incorporating waste reduction strategies, share your process! If a certain material is challenging to recycle on one site, it is a problem for everyone else as well. If there is a new innovative solution, we can collectively start to build economies of scale for circularity and reuse.
About the Author:
Kimberly Loscher is a leading sustainability professional with over six years of experience supporting corporate sustainability programs. Her areas of expertise include sustainable construction practices, international sustainability frameworks, and climate impact disclosure. Most recently, she held the position of Sustainability Director at Skanska where she oversaw the strategy and data collection for key metrics such as waste and carbon emissions for US operations. She holds a Master of Science Degree from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from University of Miami. Kimberly currently volunteers with USGBC as a member of the Materials and Resources TAG and holds LEED AP BD+C and WELL AP credentials.