UFC 1-900-01
1 DECEMBER 2002
Table 4-1. Waste Generation Rates per Building Type.
cubic feet of debris per square foot
of floor area (cu ft/SF)
Wood Building
4.5
Brick Building
3.0
Concrete Building
3.0
Table 4-2. Waste Composition per Building Type.
%
% Wood
% Brick
Concrete
% Metal
% Paper Board
Wood Building
60-75
17-22
10-30
2.5-3
<1
Brick Building
12-32
53-82
12-20
3
1-2
Concrete Building
18-20
20-22
50-51
3
5-7
4-4.1 Demolish (Landfill Burden). This method of building removal has the greatest
adverse impact on landfills. The traditional method of mechanical demolition was
developed without regard to potential environmental impacts. The disposal of wastes
generated from conventional mechanical demolition consumes valuable landfill space.
One way to reduce the landfill burden is to grind up the resulting demolition debris such
that it will require less landfill volume. While this may not save on weight-based
commercial tipping fees, it will save the life span of government-owned landfills.
Grinding also affords the opportunity to liberate some recyclables, such as steel rebar.
4-4.2 Recycle (Landfill Burden). Recycling selected materials can typically divert 70
percent of the waste from ending up in a landfill. Using a sophisticated system of
crushers, shakers, screens, magnets, and blowers, larger recovery operations can
achieve diversion rates as high as 82 percent. Including a recycling operation into the
demolition project is an effective means of reducing the landfill burden.
4-4.3 Recover (Landfill Burden). Recovering selected building materials for reuse, in
conjunction with recycling, can typically divert as much as 85 percent of the waste from
ending up in a landfill. Recovering for reuse is an effective means of reducing the
landfill burden. According to the Center for Economic Conversion, the reuse of 1,000
board feet of properly salvaged lumber can replace the harvesting of approximately
10,000 board feet of standing timber
4-4.4 Deconstruct (Landfill Burden). Recent deconstruction demonstration projects
show that high diversion rates may be achieved. Removing buildings (or major portions
thereof) intact can divert up to 98 percent of building waste from landfilling.
Deconstruction is highly effective in reducing landfill burden by diverting valuable
materials from the nation's overflowing landfills. Relocation preserves both tangible and
intangible resources embodied in the structure.
4-5 RESOURCES. Typical building removal requires certain labor and equipment
4-12
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