Construction Waste Control

Atlantic Building & Remodeling is setting new standards in green home remodeling in Rhode Island by recycling and reusing up to 50% of construction debris. This is a critical change in a state where construction and demolition waste traditionally end up in a dumpster bound for the landfill. On a Fall 2009 Atlantic Building Remodeling project, this equated to more than 30,000 pounds of debris being diverted from the Johnston landfill!

Atlantic Building & Remodeling, along with Sustainable Structures of Rhode Island, has developed a comprehensive plan to allow for recycling and/or reuse of cardboard, metals, existing materials and finishes, clean wood, asphalt shingles, concrete and a variety of other building components. The system also has an impact on the daily construction process. For example, instead of using new clean lumber for blocking or temporary applications, existing site lumber is cleaned and stripped and given priority over new lumber.

Rhode Island’s local landfill is currently over 55% capacity, and expected to be full by 2025. There is a wealth of information and guidance readily available on sustainable building and green products in the new construction space; however a clear set of standards for waste and construction debris management does not exist.  Atlantic Building consulted with the Waste Management Coordinator at the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation in order to develop a plan that controls the amount of construction waste that ends up in the landfill.