Association News

CDRA is looking for nominations for annual awards program

The Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA) announced its annual awards program is now open for submissions. Awards are given to individuals and companies involved in construction & demolition (C&D) recycling who have made significant contributions to the industry.

Nominations are due by Jan. 15, 2021, and submission forms are available on the CDRA’s website. Nominations are reviewed, and winners will be determined by a CDRA committee. The awards will be presented at C&D World, the association’s annual membership meeting, which is being held March 22, 2021 in Austin, Texas.

The following are the descriptions of the different awards.

The Construction & Demolition Recycling Hall of Fame honors those individuals whose careers have best served the industry and the CDRA. Recyclers and vendors are eligible for the award. This institution honors those prominent leaders and pioneers in the C&D recycling industry who have made extraordinary contributions to their community, both personally and professionally, and have earned the respect of the industry. It serves to recognize the achievements of those who have exemplified the importance of promoting and defending the environmentally sound recycling of C&D material through innovative processes and have encouraged and supported others to build a career in the industry. Finally, the Construction & Demolition Recycling Hall of Fame recognizes leadership in advocating for environmentally sound practices with the regulating agencies and legislative bodies that govern waste regulations.

Construction & Demolition Hall of Fame:

Requirements for the Hall of Fame include:

1. Candidates must exemplify leadership, defined as outstanding and enduring contributions to the success of the industry and to improving the processes, efficiencies and/or the human relations of the industry in an active capacity for a minimum of 10 years.
2. Candidates’ business actions and personal behavior should demonstrate courageous thinking and actions as well as vision and innovation.
3. Candidates can come from the industry as an owner, operator or vendor.

CDRA Recycler of the Year: The CDRA Recycler of the Year recognizes the individual or company that exemplifies excellence in the C&D industry. The award is meant to honor those recycling operations in the C&D recycling industry who have made an extraordinary contribution to the industry through one or more of the following criteria:

• Advancing business operations that result in increased recycling percentages
• Developing novel methods of marketing and conducting business
• Innovating practices in employer/employee relations
• Ensuring safer operations
• Protecting the environment
• Developing industry standards

CDRA Member of the Year: The CDRA Member of the Year is presented to the board member or committee member who has most served the association in the previous year. The Member of the Year is selected by the CDRA president based on extraordinary service to the mission of the organization and the C&D recycling industry through the following criteria during the previous 12-month period:

• Candidates must exemplify leadership, defined as outstanding and enduring contributions to the success of the association and to lending quantifiable contributions to the association.
• Candidates must either serve on a CDRA committee or the CDRA board of directors.

Any questions relative to the awards can be sent to info@cdrecycling.org.

Survey finds contractors fear long-term business implications of COVID-19

More than 85 percent of contractors have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, according to the results of an August reader survey conducted by Construction Executive (CE) magazine, which is published by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Supply chain disruptions, prolonged municipal permitting processes and delayed inspections due to office closures are all factors contributing to the increased rate of postponement and/or cancellation of construction projects.

While many contractors have not yet seen drastic impacts to their business, as construction was in many areas considered an “essential” service, the long-term implications are concerning. Seventy percent of contractors did not expect the construction industry to stabilize until at least 2021, while an additional 10.4 percent say they believe it may never reach pre-pandemic levels.

“While the survey respondents’ concerns about market viability and the health fears of the virus itself will remain in place for the duration of 2020 and into next year, contractors did report bright spots, such as a widespread adoption of technology after the outbreak of COVID-19,” said Lauren Pinch, editor-in-chief of CE. “That said, as the pandemic continues to change the landscape of the U.S. construction industry and state and local economies, contractors are continuously trying to assess the near- and long-term effects.”

While an uptick in office renovations to meet social distancing guidelines and to implement other COVID-19-related precautions was expected, 76.12 percent of respondents stated that they have not found this to be the case.

Looking toward economic recovery, three-quarters of contractors believe that there will be more interest in construction education programs as people seek out new types of work. Specialty trades, apprenticeship programs and more tech-focused construction jobs were all listed as areas that contractors believe will see high levels of interest.