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L/RAIN Temp: 43 °F Wind: N at 4 mph Wednesday, December 11, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend November 24, 2002 Much of the debris from demolition sites like this one on North Main Street in Ashland will have to be recycled under a newly passed city ordinance. Portland is the only other Oregon city with a similar requirement. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Ashland sets recycling levels that are designed to materials from landfills By TONY BOOM Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Contractor Robert Davis doesn’t think demolition debris recycling requirements recently approved by the City Council will increase his expenses much. But a demolition service operator estimates costs could increase 25 to 30 percent. "It’s time-consuming to actually recycle a lot of material," said Todd Marthoski, owner of M&M Services LLC, Central Point. "It will drive up the cost of demolition. It’s basically more labor and equipment." "I don’t think it’s going to add a lot of cost," said Davis. "We’ve been doing it all along. Now they are just forcing us to do it." Ordinance revisions set levels for recycling of materials that would otherwise go to landfills. New language replaces a requirement for recycling plans that many criticized as subjective. The rules are designed to divert at least 50 percent of materials. Recycling does not require the reuse of materials in their original purpose. Jackson County, Medford and Central Point do not have demolition debris-recycling requirements. Portland is the only other city in Oregon to require demolition recycling, said Brian Fuller with Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality. Cities in California and Florida have similar requirements, he said. "It’s probably a good thing, really," said Marthoski, who demolished Ashland’s fire station at Lithia Way and Siskiyou Boulevard. "But a lot of folks aren’t going to want to pay for it." Marthoski’s firm recycles 10 to 25 percent of demolition materials, depending on construction practices. Adroit Construction Chief Executive Officer Bob Mayer and contractor John Fields agree with Davis’ assessment of costs. "It will require a little additional work, but we are already doing a lot of (recycling) work," said Mayers. "It won’t add much cost." "The bottom line is that tippage (disposal costs) in an urban area is so high that it’s a strict cost incentive," said Fields. "Where it’s cheaper, you have the privilege of just putting it in a landfill." Recycling of wood waste through Biomass One is cheaper than taking it to a landfill, both Fields and Davis said. Fields recycled extensively when he expanded the Ashland Community Food Store this year. The effort was consistent with his practices and the desire of the store to generate the least amount of waste possible. Two tons of steel was recycled from the store. Fields said about $200 was spent on the effort versus $30 for a dumpster. "I see steel as a pretty precious resource," he said. "Being conscientious, you can divert 60 to 70 percent," said Fields. "Right now people are automatically pulling out 15 percent." Under the new ordinance, recycling is required whenever asphalt, brush, concrete and brick, lumber or yard debris exceed 1 cubic yard each. A cubic yard would fill a box measuring 3 feet on all sides. Ferrous metal scrap must be recycled if it’s more than 10 cubic yards. Any corrugated cardboard must be recycled. Drywall is excluded from recycling, although a White City recycler exists. Other jurisdictions might consider regulations if there is interest. "We don’t have anything on the books at this point," said Central Point planner Matt Samitore. "If (the) City Council thinks it’s a good idea, we would look at adopting something." "I haven’t received any input from the public or the council ... (but) we are certainly open to suggestions," said Medford Building Safety Director Chris Reising. "For the most part, lots of the materials from buildings are recycled." About 12 to 13 percent of the Rogue Valley’s solid waste is construction and demolition debris, Rogue Disposal Manager Don Cordell estimates. Department of Environmental Quality statistics show the figure is about 15 percent statewide, he said. The valley is lower because "a lot of that stuff goes to Biomass," a co-generation power plant in White City, said Cordell. Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Labor costs make recycling lumber impractical ASHLAND — Two-by-fours that come from demolished buildings would appear to be ideal candidates for reuse. But there are roadblocks. "The problem with used lumber is that it has to be regraded. In doing so it always gets downgraded," said Ashland building inspector Mike Broomfield. "The regraders aren’t free." Dryness usually causes the downgrade, said Broomfield. Brittle lumber that wouldn’t support a structure would be re-graded for utility applications. Lumber also needs to be free of hazardous materials, such as asbestos or lead paint. Labor costs to recycle a 2-by-4 often make reuse impractical, said contractor John Fields. Some boards may have as many as 50 nails in them. Fields reuses some demolition lumber for masonry forms and stakes at his job sites. Brick is a big exception, said Broomfield. It can be used for sidewalks. "We do see reuses of veneer, such as barn siding," said Broomfield. "It can be applied over a structural frame." Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S