University of Pittsburgh
OP-19: Construction and Demolition Waste Diversion

The University of Pittsburgh collects construction and demolition materials from all facilities construction and renovation projects performed on campus.

For projects of larger than $5 million, Pitt's Design Manual very clearly lays out construction and demolition waste management expectations in Division C: Architectural Design Guidelines for Sustainability, Products, & Materials, which are tracked by project (but difficult to aggregate) as highlighted below:

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION & DEMOLITION WASTE (C&D) MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES: Develop a waste management plan according to requirements in this Section. Plan shall consist of waste identification, waste reduction work plan, and cost/revenue analysis. Distinguish between demolition, deconstruction, and construction waste. Indicate quantities by weight or volume but use same units of measure throughout waste management plan.
Net Positive Waste: Project shall reduce environmental burdens from the extraction, processing and disposal of materials and turn the waste into a valuable resource through beneficial reuse.

C&D WASE REDUCTION: Contractor shall reduce or eliminate the production of waste during construction to conserve natural resources and ways to integrate waste back into either an industrial loop or a natural nutrient loop through reuse or recycling.

MATERIALS DIVERSION REQUIREMENTS – Includes minimum diverted material percentages including (but not limited to): 99% metals; 99% paper and cardboard; 100% soil and biomass; 100% rigid foam, carpet, and insulation; and 90% for all other materials / total combined weighted average of C&D materials diverted from landfill.

In addition to the above, provide a list of local sources to be used for recycling used material including, but not limited to carpet, ceiling panels, ceramic/porcelain finishes and fixtures, and drywall. Provide verification of material receipt and diversion form landfill.

WASTE MANAGEMENT TRACKING: Professional shall include in the Project Manual, a form to track waste diversion.

WASTE MANAGEMENT QUALIFICATIONS: Experienced firm, or individual employed and assigned by [General] Contractor, with a record of successful waste management coordination of projects with similar requirements. Superintendent may serve as Waste Management Coordinator.

DEMOLITION: Execute work of this section in a manner that maximizes salvage and recycling of materials and includes the dismantling and removal of the materials listed below to support the University’s goals for sustainability goals.
1) Concrete: May be crushed and graded for use as riprap, aggregate, sub-base material, or fill.
2) Brick: May be re-used if whole and undamaged; crushed for use as landscape cover, sub-base material, or fill.
3) Concrete Block: May be re-used if whole and undamaged; crushed for use as sub-base material or fill.
4) Land Clearing Wood: May be chipped or shredded for use as ground cover, mulch, compost, pulp or process fuel.
5) Wood: May be sorted by type and size for re-use or remanufacturing.
6) Doors: May be salvaged. When a door is permanently removed, remove cylinder from door and return to University. Refer to “Salvage Materials to be Recycled” below.
7) Metal: May be separated for recycling.
8) Hardware: May be salvaged for reuse.
9) Ceramic Tile: Tile manufacturers will take back tile for recycling.
10) Acoustical Ceiling Panels: Manufacturer’s will take back panels for recycling.
11) Carpet: Contact carpet manufacturer for take back program for recycling of carpet.
12) Disposal of Demolished Material: Remove demolished material from Project site and dispose in accordance with Section 017419 – Construction Waste Management and Disposal.D.

SALVAGED MATERIALS TO BE RECYCLED: Contractor shall coordinate with University’s Project Manager and University of Pittsburgh Surplus Department for items to be salvaged and turned over to the University. After the University’s Project Manager and Surplus Department have determined items to salvaged, Contractor shall contact local building material reuse entities including but not limited to Construction Junction and Doors Unhinged for recycling of materials. Provide verification of material receipt and diversion from landfill. On projects where there is a Construction Manager, the Construction Manager shall be responsible for coordination of salvaged materials to be recycled in accordance with the requirements listed in this paragraph.

SALVAGED MATERIALS FOR REUSE: Inventory and record condition of items to be removed and salvaged. Inventory shall include company that salvaged the material, materials that were salvaged and weight of materials that were salvaged. Provide photographs of conditions that might be misconstrued as damage caused by salvage operations.

The figures above include only smaller projects performed by in-house trades personnel. For projects over $5 million, the University requires all external contractors to recycle C&D materials. Average C&D recycling diversion rates have been in the 90 to 95% range across campus.