Update on MEIA’s New Home Construction Waste Diversion

Study

Mike Fernandes

Why Waste Opportunities?

Wednesday, October 18, 2017 (Winnipeg)

Project Objective and Timing

To complete a comprehensive analysis and operational pilot study towards assisting home builders to increase the diversion of construction waste from landfill.

Phase 1 – Baseline analysis and pre-feasibility study (2016/2017) Phase 2 – Operational pilot study (2017/2018)

Home Construction Waste Is Distinct Component of CRD

CONSTRUCTION RENOVATION DEMOLITION

RES

IDEN

TIA

L

1. CONSTRUCTION waste from RESIDENTIAL sources – includes scraps, ends and unusable cut-offs of new building materials, as well as discarded supplies, packaging and related wastes generated during the construction of new residential structures (single-family homes, multi-family homes, high rise apartments, low-rise apartments, cottages and seasonal homes).

2. RENOVATION waste from RESIDENTIAL sources – includes a mix of both Demolition waste and Construction waste and occurs when repairs or enhancements are made to EXISTING residential structures. It includes both the old/used materials that are torn down, and the waste and scraps generated when new materials are put in their place.

3. DEMOLITION waste from RESIDENTIAL sources – includes old building materials generated when residential structures that are no longer needed or wanted are torn down. It includes only the old/used materials that are torn down

NO

N-R

ESID

ENTI

AL

4. CONSTRUCTION waste from NON-RESIDENTIAL sources – includes scraps, ends and unusable cut-offs of new building materials, as well as discarded supplies, packaging and related wastes generated during the construction of new institutional, commercial and industrial buildings and structures.

5. RENOVATION waste from NON-RESIDENTIAL sources – includes a mix of both Demolition waste and Construction waste and occurs when repairs or enhancements are made to EXISTING institutional, commercial and industrial buildings and structures. It includes both the old/used materials that are torn down, and the waste and scraps generated when new materials are put in their place.

6. DEMOLITION waste from NON-RESIDENTIAL sources – includes old building materials generated when institutional, commercial and industrial buildings and structures that are no longer needed or wanted are torn down.

Phase 1 Objectives

To establish a “baseline” (e.g., what materials are generated, how are they treated, options for treatment, who are the players, what are the markets, construction cycle).

To understand: o the types and observed quantities of waste materials generated at new home

construction sites (basic waste characterization analysis),

o how waste materials are currently being managed,

o how waste is being recycled,

o what waste is being landfilled and potential opportunities for diverting material from landfill

o benefits to current processes as well as barriers/challenges to diverting these materials;

To ascertain the markets for waste construction materials;

To identify the businesses reusing or recycling construction debris;

To identify the waste streams associated with the different stages of the construction cycle;

Phase 1 Methodology

Focused literature review - objectives-based, not academic exercise

Interviews and ongoing dialogue with 2 homebuilders (Hilton Homes, Qualico Homes) and one land developer (Ladco Company Limited)

Interviews with 2 waste haulers (Klippenstein Hauling, CastleStar Hauling)

Research and interviews with local companies reusing, recycling, and/or diverting materials found in new home construction waste stream

Site analysis, observations and on-site interviews with building crews at 8 sites in Bridgewater, Southe Pointe developments (SW Winnipeg)

Study Set

Square

Footage Style

Base Price (GST not

included)

Study Site 1 1734 two story 232,500$

Study Site 2 1705 two story 251,900$

Study Site 3 1279 one story 217,900$

Study Site 4 1585 1.5 story (split level) 242,700$

Study Site 5 3102 side-by-side (each unit two story 455,200$

Study Site 6 2256 two story data not provided

Study Site 7 2593 two story data not provided

Study Site 8 2773 two story data not provided

Economic Benefits of New Home Construction

New

Housing

Starts

% of

Total

On and Off-site

Jobs Created

% of

Total

Total Wages

Paid

% of

Total

Investment

Value of Homes

Built

% of

Total

Winnipeg 4400 80% 6397 74% 345,000,000$ 74% 978,000,000$ 82%

Brandon 288 5% 444 5% 24,000,000$ 5% 57,000,000$ 5%

Steinbach 42 1% 82 1% 4,000,000$ 1% 11,000,000$ 1%

All other MB communities 771 14% 1,716 20% 93,000,000$ 20% 154,000,000$ 13%

Totals - Manitoba 5501 8639 466,000,000$ 1,200,000,000$

Macroeconomic Factors Drive Overall Volume and Composition of New Home Construction Waste

1. The more homes being built, the more waste will be generated.

2. The larger the home, the more waste is generated during the building process.

In 1975, average Canadian home was approx. 1075 square feet. By mid-2000, the average size more than doubled to over 2300 square feet. In recent years, average new home size has dropped to 1,900 square feet.

3. Consumer preferences for customization, deviations from standard dimensions and

variation in colors and design elements of homes being built also contribute to the volume and composition of waste generated.

Baseline Estimate of the Quantity of Waste Generated Through New Home Construction in Manitoba *Preliminary Phase 1 Findings*

Kelleher,

Perry,

Robins

Province

of

Manitoba

(20%)

Province

of

Manitoba

(30%)

USEPA1

Phase 1

Study

Homes

Final

Results –

Phase 1

and Phase

2 Study

Homes

Average Kgs of

Waste Generated

Per Square Foot of

New Home

Constructed in MB

0.64 1.68 2.53 1.99 3.05

to be

completed

in Phase 2

No further conclusions or interpretations of the preliminary findings should be made at this time. Phase 2 of this study will involve sorting and measuring waste from construction of new residential homes and will provide field gathered data for testing these preliminary estimates.

Illegal Dumping – Nuisance & Cost

Wood-Frame Home Building Process – 16 Stages

1. Planning, Design and Pre-Construction

2. Location, Excavation & Construction of Foundation and Footings

3. Framing of walls and sheathing of exterior (home is “walled in” aka “dried in”)

4. Roof protective barrier and coverings (typically asphalt/fibreglass shingles) installed

5. Exterior wall coverings are installed

6. Installation of Heating, Ventilation and Air Condition (HVAC) systems

7. Plumbing pipes and water systems are “roughed in”

8. Electrical wiring and main and subpanels are “roughed in”

9. Interior of home fully insulated, interior walls and ceilings are “drywalled”

10. Walls, ceilings primed and painted

11. Interior doors, frames, door/window trim, and kitchen and bath cabinetry installed

12. Subflooring, floor coverings and baseboards installed

13. Lighting and electrical fixtures installed (i.e. finish electrical)

14. Toilets, showers, sinks, faucets and bath fixtures installed (i.e. “finish plumbing)

15. Basement areas finished

16. Exterior features and add-ons (decks, detached garages, fences, walkways, etc.

Different crews, different process, different materials, different supplies.

Therefore, different mix of wastes generated at each stage.

Waste Composition Snapshots - 16 Building Stages The composition of the waste stream changes significantly through the different stages of home construction

Framing Stage Shingling stage

Exterior siding Stage Rough Electrical

Waste Composition Snapshots - 16 Building Stages The composition of the waste stream changes significantly through the different stages of home construction

Drywall stage Interior Doors, Trim, cabinets

Flooring Stage Finishing Stages

Waste Composition – By Material Category

Wood

Clean dimensional lumber (unpainted, untreated, uncontaminated)

Engineered Wood Products (EWP) scraps, cutoffs and damaged pieces in various

lengths, widths and angles, including: Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and untreated

plywood; Pressure Treated Lumber and plywood; Particle Board; Medium Density

Fibreboard (MDF); Engineered wood and wood/composite flooring

Wood pallets, crates and strips used for shipping supplies to site

Metals (Ferrous and non-Ferrous)

Ferrous metals, including: Steel strapping; Steel wire mesh; Rigid metal ducting pieces

and scraps; Metal spools; Nails, screws and metal hardware fasteners of varying types

and sizes (often attached to wood)

Non-Ferrous metals, including: Aluminum fascia, soffits, eaves and drop ceiling cross

member scraps ; trace amounts of copper electrical wire scraps and extra wiring

shipped with fixtures

Waste Composition – By Material Category

Single Resin Plastics

Flexible High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic drainage pipe scraps

Rigid polyethylene plastic pipe gas and vent pipe scraps (white, 2” diameter)

Rigid ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) plastic plumbing pipe scraps

PEX (Cross-linked polyethylene) plastic water supply lines scraps (white

Polystyrene – including: Large polystyrene foam blocks; Polystyrene foam packaging

Plastic sheathing of electrical conduit wire scraps (*copper wire removed)

Plastic film - packaging for various building materials (various colors), including:

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) siding scraps and damaged pieces

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flooring scraps in various widths, lengths, angles and colors

Polyethylene, polypropylene or mixed plastic foam flooring/carpet underlayment

Fibreglass/Asphalt Roofing Shingles

Fibreglass/asphalt roofing shingles scraps, cutoffs, and often remaining full sheets from

open packages– roofing shingles placed on new homes now contain a fibreglass layer.

Waste Composition – By Material Category

Paper Materials

Corrugated cardboard (OCC) boxes, lining and packaging in various sizes

Paperboard construction tubing used when pouring footings (typically contain

cement/concrete residue)

Boxboard and other paper packaging

Kraft paper bags – packaging for stucco sand

Hazardous Liquid Wastes & Containers

Containers/products similar to what may be found in household hazardous waste

(HHW) stream, including: Expandable foam insulation canisters; Caulking and sealant

tubes; Empty containers of plumbing adhesives; 5 gallon, HDPE #2 plastic paint pails;

Flooring adhesives

Drywall (Gypsum board)

Drywall (aka gypsum board) scraps

Waste Composition – By Material Category

Carpeting

Carpet scraps, cut-offs and odd-shaped pieces (often bagged in garbage bags)

Fibreglass insulation

Fibreglass batte insulation scraps (typically bagged in its original film packaging)

Flexible fibreglass insulated ducting

High-density polyethylene fiber “house wrap”

High-density polyethylene fiber “house wrap” scraps

Fiberglass/Mineral/Fiber acoustical ceiling tiles

Fiberglass/Mineral/Fiber acoustical ceiling tiles scraps (unusable ends/angles)

Cement-based materials, stone/masonry and ceramics

Natural and manufactured stone veneer scraps and unusable pieces

Ceramic tiles (scraps, broken pieces and leftover full pieces)

Cement board siding scraps and damaged pieces

Current Situation – Waste Management At New Home Construction Sites

Competitive and Fragmented Market with Multiple Participants

Individually Negotiated, Unit-Based Service Contracts With Varying Fee Structures

Individual Waste Collectors/Haulers Use Similar Approach but Different Equipment, Different Methods Space is extremely limited at building sites.

Bins placement and re-positioning is challenge

Minimal Separation of Waste, Loads Generally Collected and Disposed as Mixed Commercial Waste

Current Situation – Waste Management At New Home Construction Sites

Cost, Timeliness/Responsiveness and Ability to Keep Sites Clean are the Principle Competitive Drivers for Waste Haulers

Haulers have had little success with past attempts to recycle/divert Waste

Disposal Fees/Landfill tipping fees Are Significant and Growing Expense

Phase 2 Objectives

To determine the amount of waste being generated and the amount being diverted, by construction material type;

To quantify the potential costs and savings associated both with the current waste management processes and the diversion of construction waste (e.g., trucking, bins, tipping fees);

To work with MHBA to determine and coordinate the logistics involved in reusing/recycling the different construction materials (e.g., number of bins, frequency of hauling, individual bins or multi-material bins, complications with existing contracts, site set-up); and

To identify the overall opportunities for increasing diversion and barriers hindering diversion.

Manitoba Home Construction Waste Diversion Study

This site is part of a study exploring opportunities to reduce and divert

waste from the construction of new residential homes built in Manitoba.

Participants in the study include:

Questions? Call project consultant Mike Fernandes, StrategyMakers

Consulting Inc. at 204-223-4460.

We want to hear from you…

• Are you involved in new home building construction?

• Are you currently providing hauling services to home builders?

• Are you providing recycling/diversion solutions for waste wood, film plastic, asphalt shingles, metals and other construction materials?

Mike Fernandes, BA, MBA Phone: 204-223-4460 Email: mikefernandes@strategymakers.ca