SoL Harris/Day Architecture
Workplace
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
By
In Sustainability
I am constantly amazed by the great beauty of this earth and the amazing designs that we see all around us in nature. When you write an article from 35,000 feet, sitting in a window seat looking at beautiful white fluffy clouds with a backdrop of blue skies and green forests, you can't help but be thankful for where we live. The Earth and all of its systems have been created as a tremendously complex and beautiful working balanced machine. A gorgeous blend of art and science. Sounds a bit like great architecture, albeit on a vastly different scale, doesn't it? It has been said that we need to be good stewards of what we are blessed with. I agree.
According to a report in 2003 by the EPA, it is estimated that waste from the construction industry totals 135 million tons each year. This equates to more than one third of all waste that goes to landfills in any given year. Construction wasteis a large portion of landfill waste that does not need to be there.
With a little thought, internet savvy and planning, 80 to 90 percent of construction waste can be recycled. On a typical construction site, wood, metals, concrete, drywall, cardboard and carpet are all some of the items that can all be recycled and removed from the waste stream.
Part of the SōL Harris/Day building project was to remove two structures from the existing site. One small house and a storage barn. The small house was removed from the site, the debris separated and approximately 90 percent recycled. Significant waste reduction.
For the storage barn, we turned to the internet. Enter Craig's List. The barn was posted on the Craigslist internet classified ad site. Within 24 hours, the storage barn had been sold. The buyer promptly dismantled the storage barn, moved it 6 miles and reconstructed it on their site. Everything except the asphalt roofing was reused. Significant wastereduction and financial gain. Two birds with one stone!
Choosing a waste company that will provide a dumpster which will be hauled offsite, the contents separated and recycled, takes a little research and about 120 extra dollars per haul away. This can have a huge impact on the quantity of waste sent to landfills. This is an integral part of the SōL Harris/Day building process.
Remember... planning, research, creativity and Craigslist leads to an 80% - 90% reduction in waste.
Matt Sutter
SōL Harris/Day Architecture
msutter@harrisday.com
330.493.3722
Anatomy of Our Team
Waste Recycling
Republic Waste Services
330.830.8926 - www.republicservices.com
Research
Chris Wojack, SōL Harris/Day Architecture
330.493.3722 - cwojack@harrisday.com
Free Internet Classified Ad
Craigslist - www.akroncanton.craigslist.org
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