PRE-CONSTRUCTION DEMOLITION

Pre-Construction Demolition

Pre-Construction Demolition

Introduction

This guidance is provided primarily for construction and demolition contractors, waste haulers, roofing contractors, remodeling businesses, homebuilders and homeowners. Cities and counties that issue building permits may also find the information helpful. The guidance covers only wastes commonly produced during building construction, renovation and demolition.

Information about managing other wastes is available by contacting the sources listed on the last page of this fact sheet.

This fact sheet is not intended for guidance on the management of surface coatings removed from bridges, water towers or other similar outdoor structures.

Waste types

During construction, renovation and demolition activities, you may produce one or more of the following types of residuals:

• Clean fill.

• Recovered materials.

• Regulated construction and demolition waste.

• Hazardous materials and hazardous wastes.

• Asbestos-containing materials.

Management requirements differ for each of these.

Clean Fill Clean fill is "uncontaminated soil, rock, sand, gravel, concrete, asphaltic concrete, cinder blocks, brick, minimal amounts of wood and metal and inert (non-reactive) solids...for fill, reclamation or other beneficial use" [§260.200(5), RSMo]. Minimal means the smallest amount possible. For example, concrete containing wire mesh or rebar may be used as clean fill. However, exposed rebar must be removed before use. Under no circumstances are roofing shingles, sheet rock, wood waste or other construction and demolition wastes defined as clean fill.

Concrete, cinder blocks, bricks or other clean fill materials that are painted with non-heavy metal-based paints are also considered clean fill. It is the generator's responsibility to determine if the painted materials are hazardous wastes. The most typical contaminants are lead and other heavy metals. This determination can be made by representative sampling or by applying historical knowledge of the materials in question.

If asphaltic concrete is to be used as clean fill it is recommended that it not be crushed or ground any smaller than necessary. This will help to minimize the leaching of chemicals found within the asphaltic material.

2 Although not regulated as waste, placement of clean fill materials may be subject to requirements of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Water Protection Program if it is placed in contact with surface or subsurface waters of the state, or would otherwise violate water quality standards. Contact the Water Protection Program at 573-751-1300 if you have any questions. Local requirements concerning the use of clean fill may apply as well. Contact the Hazardous Waste Program at 573-751-3176 for questions about determining whether materials may be hazardous and for disposal options.

Recovered Materials

Recovered Materials are those removed for reuse (lumber, doors, windows, ceramic tile and glass) and those removed to be recycled into new products. Potentially recyclable construction and demolition wastes may include scrap metals, asphalt shingles, sheet rock, lumber, glass and electrical wire. However, it is important to remember that recovered waste must be used in some way.

Separating out certain wastes to be recycled into new products without having a market for them is expensive and pointless. Storing recovered materials indoors is expensive. Storing them outdoors may lower their value, since most will degrade or deteriorate when exposed to the ...