ABSTRACT
Construction and Demolition waste management is a problem faced of every construction
projects for its factors that affects the environment especially it causes pollution. The Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) created such action to solve the construction and
demolition waste management which is the Recycling and Reuse Program. The aim of this
program is to protect the environment (especially on the amount of waste on landfills, save natural
resources, and increase recycling and reuse activities on campus and neighboring communities.
The steps taken for this project started on determining a construction or demolition will be
conducted on a place and this leads to the preconstruction bids and contracts on recycling and
reuse. After which, all items on the building which is still needed is transferred to a new space
and Recycling and Refuse Department checks the area if there are still hazardous materials
present. During and after the construction or demolition project, the debris are sorted as
recyclable and reusable which is also given separately on recycling departments and reusing
departments. And lastly, those materials that are not determined as recyclable and reusable are
thrown in an approved landfill. The study was conducted together with the Recycling and Refuse
Department which is a major department in Facilities Management in the place.
Overall, the waste that came to landfills were greatly reduced and the cost became
minimal because of the program. This also protected the environment since recycled materials
saves the raw materials which is very beneficial. Examples of the results is that 1290 tons or 85%
of the asphalt taken from the old road was used to create a new road which the remaining 15%
was saved for other road projects which was very cost saving and very efficient. Through all the
processes, there are many things learned and things to be considered on conducting the program
which really affects the result of the project.
l. DISCUSSION OF ARGUMENTS OR IDEAS
The study of Ohio University on the management of construction debris had its
disadvantages and advantages on certain aspects. Looking on the advantageous part, the project
on construction and demolition waste was a great idea for recycling and reusing construction
wastes. In its environmental aspect, the project made scrap construction materials that were
scheduled for landfill reusable for future construction projects. According to Ryszard Dachowskia
and Paulina Kostrzewa (2016), reusing and recycling waste materials can reduce negative
environmental effects of construction. The research emphasized on certain materials namely high
impact polystyrene and foam glass. High impact polystyrene is a secondary product that has its
physical and mechanical properties altered which is called a butadiene rubber. Both materials are
from construction and demolition waste that are recycled and reused, with improvements of its
use compared to the original material. Therefore, the recycled materials do not only save limited
raw resource of construction materials, but proves that recycled materials are good quality.
Another researcher, Dirk Braen, a project manager of a construction company in New Jersey,
stated numerous factors of why recycled construction materials are safe and of quality such as
original materials.
Braen stated that recycled materials are extremely safe and reliable. As an example,
recycled asphalt and concrete maintain their integrity and use. The process of recycling has a lot
of precautionary measures to ensure safety of the finished material. Such as unnecessary
materials attached to the main material to be recycled. Therefore, recycled materials are good to
use for future projects. Although recycled materials can also affect some certain aspects of
construction. Such as incompatibility of the material to be used for foundation, as structure etc.
This may pose as a potential threat to the safety of citizens.
According to Weil et al., recycled materials cannot be used for certain aspects in
construction. An example would be civil engineering projects. There are different types of civil
engineers, their specialty and what they work with. Structural engineering applications are
sometimes not compatible using recycled materials such that these materials may be identified
as substandard and can cause damages in periods of time. On the other hand, it can be used on
different civil engineering projects except for structural engineering projects.
According to Larisa S Grigor’eva (2016), communication is significant for the flow of
transporting, sorting and recycling management. In the program of Ohio University, they stated
that creating a program that is useful for systematic tracking of costs, materials loaded etc. Both
study support each others statement that the need for better communication creates smooth
transactions for construction and demolition waste management.
Ohio University made a lot of contributions in just one program, as it reduces
environmental overuse for the source of new raw materials, and produced materials from C&D
waste that are reliable and safe for future projects. Although not all waste materials are recyclable
or reusable, considering the fact that there might be contaminants that can cause health problems
to the people using the infrastructure. Therefore, the program Ohio University made recycling and
reusing construction materials more efficient, eco-friendly and cost friendly. This made a lot of
construction companies save additional costs for producing new construction materials for
projects when there are reusable modified materials that can be used in certain aspects of a
project.
In the study, it is stated that it is harder to manage construction and demolition material
wastes as it is not near to multiple construction companies that one can collaborate with.
Construction wastes needs communication of other construction companies or sub contractors
that caters the transportation of recyclable debris.
The project is highly efficient in terms of cutting cost and at the same time being green.
Although it’s efficiency will boost if Life Cycle Cost (LCC) is given more emphasis. Abdelhamid
(2013) stated that there are two essential contract documents for applying sustainable practices
in construction projects were included; a waste management plan and a cost estimate for
construction waste management activities. Waste management plan and cost estimate are not
only necessary but also related to each other where cost estimate is prerequisite to waste
management plan implementation.
To implement construction and demolition waste management, first identify its life cycle;
It starts by waste generation in C&D site, passes through different processes to end in C&D site
ad recycled product. So when cost information is available LCC should be used to estimate the
cost of construction and demolition waste management, as per Abdelhamid (2013).
In reference to Ohio University’s statements, recycling is cost efficient. Jingkuang Liu1
and Yousong Wang’s research, to reuse and recycle construction and demolition waste is more
cost efficient than using newly produced construction materials. The study also showed
approximate costs of putting C&D wastes into landfills. Due to high cost of obtaining legal
construction wastes landfill, more and more contractors illegally dispose of construction wastes.
Therefore, recycling and reusing is a good alternative in order to lessen the chances of illegal
disposal of C&D waste.
Recycling and reusing construction and demolition wastes is more efficient in urban areas
than rural areas for the reason that urban areas have a lot more access to C&D wastes due to
constant construction projects in different places. Urban areas may have the advantage to the
collection of massive construction and demolition waste but there might be instances that the
collection of waste is scarce despite being in an urban area. Rural areas can still recycle and
reuse construction and demolition wastes although it is smaller in quantity than those found in the
urban areas because of fewer infrastructures in rural areas.
The study had more advantageous points rather than the disadvantages. There might be
possibilities that newly produced construction materials are cheaper than the recycled and to be
reused construction materials. It may also depend on the quality or the quantity of the material in
both the newly produced construction materials and recycled construction and demolition wastes.
Overall the construction & demolition waste recycling and reuse project of Ohio University
is astounding and is well planned. Although It needs polishing, It is still a project that must be
implemented by other Universities, Colleges and organizations, to become efficient, cost efficient
and to promote, and contribute in saving the environment.
II. ANALYSIS
The Ohio environmental protection agency (OEPA) put emphasis that went into effect in
regards of disposal construction and demolition waste which is more up to alteration construction
or destruction of building. The study aims to develop environmental globe as they reduce the
waste of construction and demolition but at the same time to construct economic advancement in
buildings and infrastructures also to create a system where in the C & D waste would be properly
managed which would provide benefits to the campus and help the environment by reducing the
waste that would reach the landfills. The quantity and quality of waste being produced was
important and substantial due to numerous projects and renovation that could possible employed
at all cost thus the main focus of the study is an analysis of the reuse and recycle since generated
materials from construction and demolition were the same material used for possible projects in
the future.
Secondly the study generates the idea of preserving the quality of an infrastructure at the
same time minimizing the total generate cost of project by using the recycled waste from
construction and demolition. Since the recycled materials were the same in quality thus using
these materials would minimize the cost in construction compared on using new generated
materials. Waste management can help in redistributing the recycled materials back to the market
which also reduces the need to acquire raw materials. C & D waste must be properly managed
since it could pose dangers if not properly disposed. It is also implying the idea of cost and
demand system since the lesser cost the material inflicts the more demands it will generate but
this idea is crucial since the materials recycled are needed to undergo several observations, test
and analysis before using it again.
Lastly is the landscape which is can be used for a new project since the said site was
already discover for construction and also can be used for future construction with just a thorough
surveying just to secure the strength and reliability of the structure of the grounds.
This case is applicable in our university but it would need the cooperation of everyone in
the university. In order for this to be applicable in our university, the university must have
organizations similar to that of the case study which would also act similarly. For this to be also
applied to the university a budget must also be provided since it is an organization which has a
specific job within the university. For this to be applicable to the university the community in the
university must also cooperate since this needs manpower to be able to execute its work which
is to manage waste.
On the same side, University of San Carlos already have building that are old enough but
have rich in construction material which have better quality compared to new generated
construction materials thus it is very applicable if any case to use the materials or construction
and demolition waste in designing and building better building in terms of strength durability
design and impact on structural strategy.
III. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the study is mainly focused on reusing C & D waste in order to reduce the
need to use raw materials for constructing infrastructures and to reduce the money used for
disposal to landfills. We can also conclude that this process or method can also be used in other
Universities given that the community in the University is willing to cooperate in the process. The
study is also pointing out that too much waste that can be reused and recycled are being placed
in landfills and so in order to counter that problem, the process of recycling C & D waste is
proposed. Therefore, a greater engagement and a new attitude from all practitioners is absolutely
necessary in order to implement new and more adequate waste management rules and new
selection demolition processes so as to increase the results of the construction waste
management.
RECOMMENDATION
Nowadays, few measures have been carried out to improve the relationship among
construction site activities, the environment and the citizens. Maybe due to the mobility of the
construction activity, it is difficult to make the construction companies – especially the smallest
ones – keep the law. There are some good examples but they are still insufficient. But here are
the five, the group can recommend:
A. Selective Demolition
Treatment of the C & D waste should be considered from its origin. They should start at
the time of deconstruction or demolition and not in the treatment plant in order to minimize the
amount of C & D waste that is destined for disposal at landfill. Also, selective demolition should
include the dismantling of elements classified as hazardous waste (asbestos elements, all related
to plumbing, parts of refrigerants for air conditioning installations, etc.), electrical installations,
carpentry, elements with high plaster content, structures, and foundations.
B. Weighing and Classification of the C & D Waste
At the entrance to the plant, the C & D waste must be weighed using a scale, and classified
according to two criteria (Table 1): the nature of the C & D waste (concrete, mixed and asphalt)
and economic effort necessary to carry out cleaning (removal of hazardous waste and improper
elements such as plaster, plaster, wood, or glass). Separating the different fractions by a selective
demolition process can result in an increase in the cost of demolition. To compensate this, the C
& D waste treatment plants must offer differentiated fees, depending on the degree of
contamination of the C & D waste in its reception.
C. Destination of C & D waste According to the Classification
According to nature of the C & D waste (concrete, mixed and asphaltic), three storage
areas, where the stockpiles will be located, must be arranged. In case that the material is
considered clean, it will be discharged directly into its collection area. In case that the C & D waste
is classified as dirty, a manual cleaning of hazardous elements will be carried out, which will be
assigned to an authorized manager. In this way, large size elements will be disposal to landfill.
And if the C & D waste is classified as very dirty, the economic effort to obtain a RA with enough
quality to be put on market is too high, so for this reason, it should be destined to disposal at
landfill.
D. Quality Control System
Finally, the manufacturer must establish a quality control system in the production of RA,
based on EN 13242 standard for their use in civil engineering work and road construction. It
specifies the tests to be conducted and their minimum frequency. The manufacturer must
establish a production control manual.
E. Construction and Demolition Waste Management in the University of San Carlos
Based on the analysis that the University of San Carlos may be capable in adapting
Construction and Demolition Waste Management, school officials assigned on this matter should
plan accordingly in terms of budget, manpower and management. Cooperation is highly needed
on this matter. Since there are ongoing projects in the university, there will be a lot of construction
and demolition wastes. Materials that can still be of good use will be properly stored and preserved
for future uses such as for minor renovations or buildings in the university. Hazardous and useless
wastes on the other hand will be properly disposed. Materials that will be recycled and reused will
be evaluated by a professional engineer to ensure that it is safe and suitable for future projects.