Market matters

Kristin Smith

For most mixed C&D recyclers across the country, finding markets for cardboard, metals, concrete and wood come pretty easily. It’s consistent commodity markets such as these that help keep their businesses afloat.

That’s the good news, but the unfortunate reality for many C&D recyclers is the lack of end markets for a plethora of other materials that make their way into the mixed C&D stream and into recyclers’ facilities that cannot be recycled.

Of course when I say materials cannot be recycled, that doesn’t mean a method doesn’t exist for the recycling of that material, it means that the material has no outlet in the particular area where a recycling facility exists. Many scenarios could make this the case for items such as shingles, carpet, plastics, ceiling tiles, drywall and even fines left over after the recycling process.

It could be that these facilities are located in a state where recycled content isn’t permitted in road base or that the nearest outlet for the material is too far away for cost-effective hauling. Additionally, if the facility is close to mining operations, then using recycled material isn’t as attractive to consumers. Misperceptions about quality degradation still exists for some recycled materials even if unmerited.

I remember learning last year about a C&D recycler in Ohio who was not permitted to dispose of his fines in a C&D landfill of all places, and the material continued to pile up at his facility. Another recycler in the Midwest told me his facility was landfilling two-thirds of its shingles because the demand wasn’t there.

In 2014 Construction & Demolition Recycling ran a series of articles as part of a series on growing markets. The intent was to help recyclers understand markets for the more difficult materials to recycle out of the mixed C&D stream. Our May/June issue dealt with gypsum drywall; July/August focused on flooring; September/October looked at plastics; and in this issue we have a feature on carpet recycling on page 38.

I hope you have found these articles helpful. As green building practices and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) continue to be an area of attention for contractors, lesser value, difficult-to-recycle materials will continue to come into C&D recycling facilities because the demolition contractors are required to divert them. We as an industry need to work together to develop alternatives to landfilling these materials that make economic sense.
 

Please note that Construction & Demolition Recycling’s offices relocated in late September to 5811 Canal Rd., Valley View, Ohio 44125. Our new main telephone number is 216-393-0300 and our new fax number is 216-525-0515.