DOLLARS AND SENSE
SALVAGE
Spawning Economic Development
from Material Recovery
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On average $1.6 billion dollars is spent on disposal of construction debris.
53% of that is directly from demolitions.
The process of demolition creates no new jobs.
75%-98% of all materials from a demolition are recyclable, or reusable.
Municipalities spend approximately $50,000 per demolition.
Demolition and disposal are the end game, all materials reach end of the cycle at the land fill.
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Typically any building built prior to 1972 is 75%-98% recyclable, or reusable.
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Deconstruction and salvage on average creates 1 to 10 jobs directly to each project.
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While a deconstruction project may bid higher than demolition, it is on the reclamation of
materials that deconstructions are often 40% or more cheaper than demolition and in some
cases generate a large profit in the longer run.
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Not all buildings are candidates for deconstruction but all are candidates for salvage.
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Demolition is quick and dirty. Deconstruction is slow and clean.
 A typical demolition through a municipality will often skirt environmental requirements by
applying the label of emergency. The process to completion is 3 to 5 days.
 A typical deconstruction and salvage will take 30 to 90 days to complete and embraces
environmental requirements by working closely with inspectors, asbestos and hazardous
material handlers for a controlled and systematical disassembly of structures, creating jobs
opportunities.
 Demolition disturbs
neighborhoods and creates unsafe
environments until completed.
 Deconstruction and salvage has
minimal impact on neighbors and
there is virtually no
environmental issues in regards to
noise, dust exposure or property
damage.
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Demolition will typical only recover high
value items. Meaning copper, aluminum and
other metals that are easily scrapped, the rest
is sent to the landfill. No additional dollars
generated as a result.
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With demolition there is missed opportunities
to reclaim lumber, gypsum, shingles, flooring
and sometimes even fixtures. All of which
have a high market value if it was handled
properly.
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By utilizing salvage and deconstruction historical,
architectural and unique features can be preserved
and reused to restore other structures in the region.
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Development of reuse centers in the recent years has
created niche markets for theses items in local
economies. Nationally it is estimated that the knobs
and knockers market generated $100 million to the
economy since 2010.
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Job creation through salvage and deconstruction.
• Entry level laborer positions in deconstruction and salvage pay an
estimated $20 to $30/hr.
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Spurs development of craftsman skills through the process of
deconstruction and understanding of old building techniques.
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Development of material based businesses or service offering
enhancements to existing businesses:
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New business demands of:
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Shingle, gypsum and lumber recyclers.
Lumber, millworks and materials reuse.
Restoration material providers.
Material repurposing
Current businesses restructure by:
 Utilizing current equipment or expanding to offer onsite
services.
 Offering deconstruction at a lower cost to demolition.
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Municipalities can drive the change from
demolition to deconstruction and salvage by:
 Change RFP’s to require specific materials or
a percentage of the material in the demolition
bid to be recycled
 Change legislatively laws to require
demolitions to recycle a specific percentage
of total materials.
 Regain control of landfill use.
 Encourage deconstruction and salvage
through the use of their Economic
Development, IDA’s and Land Banks.
 Develop deconstruction and salvage policies
at the code level as well as train staff to the
process and procedures of it.
Deconstruction in dollars and cents (Case study 1):
Deconstruction Project
Warehouse 9200 sq/ft wood structure
Expense:
Labor - $33000 (5 people @ $32.00/hr)
Equipment and waste disposal-$12000
Administration (inspections, permits, insurance) - $8000
Total Expense: $53000
Income from sale of lumber: $43000
NET COST: $9340
Demolition Bid
Total Expense: $16800
NET COST: $16800
This was an actual project at the Presidio of San Francisco, done by a for
profit business: Beyond Waste, Inc. The project took a crew of five, four
weeks to dismantle the building and 87% of the building salvage for
reuse, including 65000 board feet of Douglas Fir and Port Oxford Cedar.
Over half of the material was sold on site while the remaining materials
were moved to a retail and storage facility.
The demo bid included no salvage and provided no new employment
opportunities. In the end the cost was 45% less than the demolition bid.
This was done in 1996 and the estimate today for this demolition would
be approximately $50000, yet the deconstruction would roughly remain
the same (+ or - $5000 in administration costs) other than the income for
the lumber which currently would bring in around $52000.
Web: www.troysalvage.com
Email: tsad@nycap.rr.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/TroysVPWGDS