Archive for the ‘Latest News’ Category
Welcome to 2024 and Our New Certified Facilities
Posted on January 11, 2024Welcome to 2024
How was 2023? Not great, but fairly good, all things considered. Some facilities struggled, which is not unusual in this industry. Most would agree C&D recycling is often challenging, sometimes exciting, but you would be hard pressed to find anyone walking around saying how easy it is. On a positive note, many of the facilities with whom we interacted the past year were optimistically exploring growth opportunities, especially related to third-party certification, and solidifying or growing their customer bases.
Furthering the positive trend, RCI brought two new Certified Facilities onboard. Welcome Mount Materials (Morrisville, PA) and ReSource Waste Services of Lewiston (Lewiston, ME). Congratulations to you both on your Certifications!
We are excited about our own growth opportunities with additional facilities becoming registered and working toward certification. We believe there are some positive moves being made within the industry that are leading to a greater interest in third-party certification.
The past couple of years RCI has been working to shift the dialogue on C&D recycling rates. Instead of focusing on high C&D recycling rates, there should be more of a focus on high performance C&D recycling. While these two things are not mutually exclusive, our experience is that focusing on the former can be more problematic than focusing on the latter. The increased interest in the topic and a slight shift in the direction of high-performance recycling is promising, but there is still a long way to go. Some may see this concept as controversial, but it makes more sense when you take a holistic look at the C&D recycling landscape. To be sure, RCI supports high recovery rates, but it is a complicated issue when you look behind the numbers. Look for more information on this topic in a future update.
We would like to extend a huge Thank You to our current Certified and Registered Facilities who continue to support third-party certification. We look forward to working with you and the growing group of facilities interested in becoming certified in 2024.
Have a great year!
County of Los Angeles Updates C&D Ordinance — Includes Third-Party Certification
Posted on March 13, 2023On January 31, 2023, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve Public Works staff’s proposed updates to LA County’s C&D Ordinance. The background is below, as well as a link to the Board of Supervisors January 31, 2023 public hearing. The proceedings, under Item 6. Hearing on County Code, Title 20 – Utilities Amendment, include this link to the certified ordinance. The new ordinance is anticipated to meet or exceed CalGreen requirements. The ordinance went into effect March 2, 2023. Congratulations to Los Angeles County!
Background:
The County of Los Angeles Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris Recycling Ordinance, adopted January 4, 2005, requires 50% of all debris generated from construction, demolition, and/or grading projects in unincorporated areas of the County to be recycled or reused. The 50% recycling rate and other requirements in the County ordinance met or exceeded the original minimum requirements in the State’s Green Building Standards Code (CalGreen).
In 2016, the State revised the CalGreen and increased the minimum recycling rate for all C&D debris from 50% to 65%. The revised 2016 CalGreen code also requires100% accountability of excavated soil, proper accountability and disposal for universal waste, and 100% recycling of soil, vegetation, and rocks generated from land clearing activities. These were not required in the previous CalGreen code, so are not in the County’s current C&D ordinance.
On April 30, 2018, Public Works updated the County green building code and adopted the 2016 CalGreen code by reference. However, the current County C&D ordinance does not comply with the minimum requirements in the 2016 CalGreen standard and the County building code.
Public Works is proposing to revise the County’s Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris Recycling and Reuse Ordinance to make the County ordinance consistent with the recycling requirements in the latest California Green Building Standards (CalGreen Code), to help achieve the waste diversion targets in the County’s Roadmap to a Sustainable Waste Management Future, and to help the County better address illegal dumping of soil and C&D debris in the unincorporated County areas and allow the disposal of soil at certain gravel pits and quarries to facilitate future development of those sites.
The proposed revisions will:
- Increase minimum required C&D recycling rate from 50 percent to 70 percent
- Require a 100 percent recycling rate for trees, stumps, rocks, and associated vegetation and soil from land clearing.
- Require 100 percent of excavated soil for all projects be properly accounted for
- Require proper disposal of Universal Waste
- Introduce a Refundable Project Deposit for certain grading, building, and construction permit applicants who submits a recycling and reuse plan to encourage compliance with the ordinance.
- Require certification for C&D Debris Recycling Facilities
- Require all County Projects comply with the C&D recycling requirements of the County and the State
- Require 100 percent accountability of all project C&D debris.
https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/sop/1137239_013123_PublicHearing.pdf#search=%22Construction%20&%20Demolition%20recycling%22
California Rubberized Pavement Grant Program
Posted on October 3, 2022CalRecycle Announces a New round of Grants
Maybe you’ve been thinking about recreational trails for your community or creating safer bicycle trips while reducing car trips and emissions. How about quieter streets in neighborhoods and business districts? Do tires keep finding their way into your facility? Take a look at previous awards and see how others have used these grants offered by CalRecycle.
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) provides the Rubberized Pavement (Pavement) Grant Program, formerly called the Rubberized Asphalt Concrete (RAC) Grant Program, to promote markets for recycled-content surfacing products derived from waste tires generated in California and decrease the adverse environmental impacts created by unlawful disposal and stockpiling of waste tires. RAC is a proven road paving material that has been used in California since the 1970s. It is made by blending ground tire rubber with asphalt binder which is then mixed with conventional aggregate materials.
Under the Pavement Grant Program, the Targeted RAC Incentive Grant and RAC Chip Seal Grant have been consolidated into one grant with two project types–RAC and Chip Seal projects.
The program provides competitive grants to encourage first-time or limited users of RAC. It is available to public entities which include: California cities, counties, regional park districts, special districts, Joint Powers Authorities, state agencies (including offices, departments, bureaus, and boards) and Qualifying Indian Tribes.
https://calrecycle.ca.gov/Tires/Grants/Pavement/
CalRecycle has issued the Notice of Funding Availability for Fiscal Year 2022-23 and released the online application for the Rubberized Pavement Grant Program. For detailed information regarding eligibility, grant amount, application, and timelines, please visit the Pavement Grant Program website at:
https://calrecycle.ca.gov/
Interested applicants will use CalRecycle’s online Grant Management System (GMS), to submit a grant application. To get started, see page 15 of the Application Guidelines and Instructions document for application access.
For more information regarding GMS, please visit:
https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/
The application deadline is October 12, 2022.
Thank you for your interest in the Pavement Grant Program.
Grants Team
City of Hayward (CA) Updates its C&D Ordinance and Specifies Third-Party Certification
Posted on June 22, 2017The City of Hayward is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, a hotbed of C&D programs, ordinances, and recycling operations. Upping the ante, the City of Hayward recently amended their C&D ordinance to expand the recycling requirement to include more projects and also require increased diversion. California state law has required cities and counties to divert at least 50% of their waste since 2000, but this past January California Building and Standards Codes (CALGreen) updates went into effect with even more stringent recycling rules for C&D projects. CALGreen now requires projects recover/recycle 65% or more of the non-hazardous C&D waste and that projects utilize a C&D recycling facility that meets locally approved standards for reporting verification.
In developing the locally approved standards for reporting verification, Hayward’s ordinance establishes the term “Qualified Third Party Organization.” Accordingly, Qualified Third Party Organization “refers to an organization that certifies the Facility-Average Diversion Rate of Mixed-Recovery Facilities” with the requirements of certification described in more detail in the ordinance. In a nutshell, the requirements are nearly directly aligned with the USGBC’s LEED Pilot Credit MRpc87. Why is this important?
The Recycling Certification Institute (RCI) understands the importance of good (read: accurate) data and how necessary that is to effectively measure performance. The USGBC understands this as well and has approved our CORR Protocol for Third-Party Verification of Construction & Demolition Recycling Rates. That is one of the reasons why any LEED project that takes its materials to a C&D facility Certified by RCI is eligible to receive the additional MRpc87 Pilot Credit.
Kudos to City of Hayward elected leaders and staff for establishing an exemplary ordinance that supports increased recovery of C&D materials and verified recovery rates at C&D facilities. RCI has already certified numerous C&D processing lines that handle waste from Hayward and we have been in communication with other interested facilities. We look forward to working with these companies and StopWaste.Org as we continue and combine our efforts in this region.
More information on the City of Hayward’s C&D program and ordinance can be found here.
Best regards,
Stephen M Bantillo
Recycling Certification Goes to Quebec
Posted on April 26, 2017Earlier this year I had the opportunity to travel to Quebec, Canada as an invited speaker at 3R MCDQ’s Annual Conference. 3R MCDQ represents Quebec’s C&D industry much as CDRA does in the US. As industry associations go, it should come as no surprise their issues are quite similar to ours. They are focused on: representing and promoting the industry, transfer of knowledge and information, developing expertise, and promoting networking and the exchange of ideas.
3R MCDQ, in concert with Recyc Quebec (a pseudo-government council reporting to Quebec’s Minister of the Environment) have turned their attention to C&D facilities over concerns the facilities may be misreporting their recycling rates. They also desire to better understand the performance and contributions of the industry through accurate data. Sound familiar?
Over the past year or so, 3R MCDQ and Recyc Quebec have been evaluating the potential implementation of Third-Party Certification for C&D facilities as a means of addressing the above and other related concerns. RCI was interviewed as part of this evaluation and the firm that coordinated the study on certifying organizations presented their findings at the conference, with RCI receiving consideration.
My presentation provided an overview of the CORR Protocol and how RCI conducts Facility Certifications. It was a great opportunity to speak with their members as well as Recyc Quebec who likely will be responsible for recommending the Certifying Organization when they are ready to move forward.
Despite a winter storm that wreaked havoc on Montreal’s roadways for several days, our neighbors to the north greeted me with warm hospitality and I enjoyed meeting with them as well as the opportunity to share and learn.
Best regards,
Stephen M Bantillo
Photo credit: Melissa Gariepy photographiem.com
Previously printed in CDRA Member e-Newsletter
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: MARCH 26, 2015 — OHIO RECYCLING FACILITY CERTIFICATION TRAINING
Posted on March 18, 2015Hosted by the Construction and Demolition Association of Ohio (CDAO) and the Recycling Certification Institute (RCI), this one-day training is for recyclers and for potential evaluators in the RCI program. CDAO and RCI, in conjunction with the Ohio EPA, have developed a training program with criteria specifically for use in Ohio related to the disposal of C&DD residuals in C&DD landfills.
If you are a potential evaluator for RCI, you must have five years of experience with Ohio C&DD laws and operations. This person must also receive training on RCI systems and programs prior to becoming an approved evaluator. The required training will be available in person March 26th. The evaluator will be responsible for auditing a facility and its books for records and accuracy, as well as signing the evaluators report. Please RSVP if you want to receive the evaluator training. Evaluators will receive the course information for review before the day of the training.
The morning session will outline two programs that will use the RCI system in Ohio. The first of which is for the disposal of residuals from C&DD recycling facilities at C&DD disposal facilities and the other is for the beneficial use of fines from a C&DD recycling facility. While not everyone will need to be involved in the afternoon session, we encourage all facilities to come learn about the program in the morning.
Please click here CDA-RCI-OEPA Training Flyer 2015 for the location, agenda, and Registration Form for this training. Whether you plan to attend all day or only the morning, Pre-Registration is required for potential RCI Evaluators and highly encouraged for all others (box lunches will be provided). Potential Evaluators are also asked to register on the RCI website: https://www.recyclingcertification.org/evaluation-bodies/
Thank you to CEC for their generosity in providing meeting space for us to use in Columbus! We hope all can come and learn about the program, which we believe will greatly benefit the industry and regulators.
RCI’s Executive Director has the “Last Word” — The importance of third-party certification in C&D recycling
Posted on February 21, 2014RCI Executive Director Stephen M Bantillo has the “Last Word”. In an article featured in the January/February 2014 Digital Edition of Recycling Product News, Bantillo explains the importance of third-party certification of C&D facilities. Good things happen when industry, government, and USGBC come together. Read it at Recycling Product News or download it here (posted with permission of Recycling Product News).
LEED v4: CHANGES ARE COMING TO CONSTRUCTION & DEMOLITION RECYCLING
Posted on December 3, 2013After extensive review and discussion, USGBC members have approved major changes in LEED v4, which includes a focus on performance in the Materials & Resources category. Are you ready?
Key Changes in LEED v4….
Alternative Daily Cover:
Projects will still receive 1 and 2 points for 50% and 75% diversion from landfill; however, Alternative Daily Cover has been specifically excluded from diversion from landfill calculations.
Pilot 3rd Point:
An additional point from the LEED Pilot Credit Library may be awarded to projects using a C&D recycling facility whose recycling rates have been verified by an authorized third-party. This pilot point is currently in-progress with USGBC. If approved, the Pilot Credit is anticipated to be available with the next published Pilot Credit Addenda.
Why is Third-Party Certification Important?
With LEED v4’s emphasis on performance it is important that recycling rates claimed by C&D recycling facilities are accurate and verified. In addition to the Pilot 3rd Point under LEED v4, government agencies across the nation are implementing C&D recycling programs and many require accurate reporting of recycling rates.
RCI’s CORR program provides credible, ISO-level third-party certification of C&D facilities’ recycling rates and we look forward to USGBC’s implementation of the Pilot 3rd Point.
RCI Adds New Certified Facilities
Posted on October 3, 2013If you have been following our progress, you’ve probably noticed the ongoing updates on our web page and, most notably, the recent changes to our Facilities page for Registered and Certified Facilities. We are excited to announce that Broad Run Recycling in Manassas, VA and Zanker Road Resource Management in San Jose, CA have been added to the Certified Facilities page.
For Broad Run Recycling, RCI performed a Re-certification of their mixed C&D operation. For Zanker Road Resource Management, RCI performed Certifications of their four individual lines–Wood and Yard Waste, Concrete, Sheetrock, and Shingle Recycling. You can visit our Certified Facilities page and see how these facilities perform.
Congratulations to Broad Run Recycling and Zanker Road Resource Management!
Preckwinkle announces online software ‘Green Halo’ simplifies recycling projects
Posted on July 15, 2013Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced today that an online software system called Green Halo has helped contractors recycle thousands of tons of construction debris and stay in compliance with the County’s new Demolition Debris Diversion ordinance, announced President Preckwinkle’s Cook County office.
The ecofriendly ordinance passed in February requires that at least 70 percent of C&D (Construction and Demolition) debris must be recycled, and an additional 5 percent of it must be reused on residential structures. To help make sure this Ordinance is implemented smoothly and to make the process easier for both parties, Cook County will be using Green Halo’s online Waste Tracking System to monitor and track C&D Projects and make sure that Recycling Requirements are met.
The County has made the Green Halo system available to contractors for free to simplify the way they track waste and recycling from demolition and construction projects. It also helps ensure recycling requirements are met.
Since November, the software has tracked more than 25.7 thousand tons of demolition waste that has been recycled or reused. It also locates the nearest recycling facilities, uploads recycling drop-off tickets and submits reports directly to the County. Contract administrator Tracy Alvord of Brandenburg Industrial Service Company said Green Halo system is “easy to follow” and can find nearby recycling facilities that accept hard-to-recycle materials such as carpeting.
“I’m proud Cook County is the first local government in the Midwest to use this business-friendly reporting system,” President Preckwinkle said. “We are saving time and money for contractors by switching to an electronic reporting system that’s easy and efficient.” Since November, approximately 62 contractors have used Green Halo to enter a waste diversion plan, which takes an average of only five to ten minutes to input. “Green Halo has eliminated hundreds of pounds of paper previously used by contractors and the County, saving money, trees, energy and time,” said Deborah Stone, director of the Cook County Department of Environmental Control. “And the easy access to reports means we are accountable for making sure there are real environmental benefits from our programs.”
Cook County is also the first local government in the Midwest to require the reuse of material as part of its ordinance. As a result of the ordinance, contractors have been able to glean high value lumber for reuse as structural beams in new houses, along with brick, doors and windows, kitchen and bathroom fixtures.
The groundbreaking demolition ordinance enacted last November is part of President Preckwinkle’s Sustainability Initiative, with the goals of reducing energy consumption, decreasing pollution, and creating livable and sustainable communities.
Send John Presta an email and your story ideas or suggestions, johnpresta@att.net.
John is the author of an award-winning book, the 2010 Winner of the USA National Best Book award for African American studies, published by The Elevator Group, Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots. Also available an eBook on Amazon. John is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors and is a book reviewer of political books for the New York Journal of Books. John has volunteered for many political campaigns.
