bob mcalister answers:

The outside of the building I live in has siding made of cedar planks (its an old building) and every year we get squirrels setting up a nest in the walls after they chew through the outer wall.

We have to call a professional pest control company and they come out and mount traps near the hole to catch the squirrels then they patch the hole. You’ll most likely have to do the same.

Until you can get the money together to call one of these pest control companies you may need to move the sonic devices into the roof space. I think the reason they’re not working is because the sounds aren’t penetrating through the drywall along your ceiling into the roof space, so the squirrels don’t hear it. The sounds are bouncing off the walls and ceilings of the rooms in your house, which works against rodents completely (i.e. Have made holes through the inner drywall and can creep around at night or while no one is there) inside the house.

Try placing the sonic devices in the roof space. There should be an access panel in the ceiling (in a hallway or garage) that leads to the space. Your home may not have a formal attic (with floors and storage room) but the access panal is supposed to be somewhere in the place so that homeowners and contracters can install new isulation and/or run additional electrical lines from above without having to tear up the walls.

Like I said we gets squirrels in our building all the time and I talk with the guys that come out to set up the traps. I mentioned to the guy that when I ride my bike down the street the squirrels I see in the road instead or running away they actually run toward me and across my path like they have a deathwish and want to get run over. He told me that squirrels have a natural instinct to first charge at a threat before turning tail and running off. They’re even more aggressive if the threat approaches their nest, and he once had a squirrel jump right at his face the moment he stuck his head into an attic to get at a nest.

So BEFORE you open the access panel in the ceiling keep one of the devices ON and in your hand when you get up on the ladder to reach for the panel. Open it just a crack (about 1/2 an inch) and put the device close to it so that the sound starts going into the roof space, with any luck you’ll hear scampering away from you and the panel as they try to get away from the sound. Raise the panel slowly until you can get the device just inside. Make sure the device’s speaker is face up, so that the sound waves can bounce off the roof and reverberate through as much of the space as possible. If the speaker is placed facing a particular direction it may not be very effective, and will be completely useless if it falls (or is knocked over) and the speaker is directed into the insulation.

This might be enough to get the squirrels out, then all you have to do is patch the hole in the outer wall, but before you do that you might want to have someone crawl up there with a flashlight and make sure that there’s not a set of babies that are too young to move on their own. One of the nest we had actually had 4 baby squirrels that needed to be pulled out of the wall because they were only a few weeks old and only the mother was able to leave the nest and get caught in the traps.

bob mcalister answers:

Start off with your 15# felt. Run a row across the bottom of the roof and continue up the roof. Overlap each row 6 inches. You don’t need to worry about caulking or anything. If water gets underneath your roofing material, you’ve got a leak anyway. Just do a good job with the installation and don’t worry about the underlayment (unless it’s damaged or wet or soft). Your first row of shingles will require two layers making sure you offset the seams. Work your way up the roof making sure the shingle edges on ajoining rows don’t come within 12 ” of each other (Stagger the seams). The starter row should overhang 1-1/2 inches off the plywood. The sides should overhang the same (assuming steel facia). When you get to the top, don’t use the field shingles for the ridge row. You need to order the proper amount of ridge row. This is a thinner shingle that will bend easier than the field shingle. The very last ridge shingle will have two exposed nails that you can caulk if you’d like.
Points that need to be cleared up:
1. Your shingles are Timberline, not Timberland
2. You dont need 2 squares, you need 3 bundles( 1 square) plus one more bundle for the waste for a total of 4 bundles of field shingles. See if you can find an open bundle of ridge accessories as you won’t need a whole bundle.
3. Don’t caulk anything except any vents that you install.
4. Ice and Water shield doesnt stop ice dams from forming, it helps stop leaks once they do form. Since your not heating your shed, you won’t need Ice and Water shield.
5. Your shingles don’t have tabs…Four nails per shingle.

Good Luck and do not fall !!

Mike

bob mcalister answers:

You’ve got to get all the old paint and primer off first. A good stripper will do that. The next step is to sand the metal with 120 grit wet or dry paper, keeping the surface wet while sanding (no electric sander here—BZZZZZZZTTTT). When all the rust is gone, wash and dry the metal and immediately put on a coat of primer for whatever finish you will be using (oil based for oil paint or laquer for laquer based paint. After that dries, then you put on you color coats, preferably several thin coats. If it looks like you need a heavier coat when you painting, don’t do it now, put t on after it dries. You may want to put on 2 or 3 light coats and then scuff the surface with 200+ grit finishing paper then lay on some more color coats. Sand again with even finer grade sandpaper and then rub it out with compound. After you’re done this step, put a coat of car wax or polish on it.That should give you a nice finish on your project that will protect it for years to come. Good luck.

bob mcalister answers:

The websites won’t state how much the homes are, because the same home will be different prices in different parts of the country. A $60,000 home in North Carolina, will run $120,000 outside of Detroit… And it’s the same identical home. This is because of the housing markets in those different regions. Also, there are many many different options you can get with your home…

You are going to have to go shopping.

Now… First, there are different kinds of homes for sale at mobile home dealerships…. There is the ‘traditional’ mobile home. (The overall quality of the homes produced industry wide, are much better than they were 20 years ago, but there are some things to watch out for). Another type of home you may see at a dealership, is the “modular” home — this type of home is designed to have the steel transport frame removed once it has reached the home site, whereas the traditional mobile home, the steel frame is part of the structure, and has to stay in place. You need to keep this in mind, if placing the home on a basement, as it affects the ‘actual’ ceiling height. If you had poured cement walls to 8ft… Expecting to get an 8ft ceiling in the basement, you’d get a shock…. Lol…. The frame alone would take about a foot of that space.

Okay… What to look for in a manufactured home….

1: Structure…Walls…Many homes come with only 7ft exterior walls…. Usually, these have shorter doors… More about that later. Whenever possible, you want to look at homes with the full 8ft exterior walls, these are usually, the better built homes.
The only load bearing walls in a manufactured home, are the exterior walls, and, in a double- or triple-wide, the marriage walls. (those are the walls where the halves, or thirds, come together… All other interior walls are just decoration… They do not carry any of the weight of the roof) This fact is important to know, because some of the lesser quality homes try to pass themselves off as good quality homes by saying they have “2×4 load bearing walls”… And most folks would think that meant ALL the walls were made of regular house studs…. They are NOT. In a home with that kind of description, the interior walls are actually made up of 1 /12″ x 1 1/2″ studs… Leaving you with very thin walls, which noise passes thru very easily.
What you want to look for are homes with 2″x6″ exterior walls, and standard wall studs on the interior walls.

2. Roofing: Many manufacturers, even tho they may use shingles, will use a ‘lower grade’ of shingle… What you want is a name brand with a minimum of a 25 year expected life on it (Owens Corning, Certainteed… Both are good brands) UNDER the shingles, you want at least 15 lb felt paper… 30lb is better… Unfortunately… Some of the lower quality homes do not even use felt paper… Instead, they use a two-ply brown paper… With wax on it… It’s no heavier than your local grocery store paper bag. Think about that. For the roof decking… 7/16″ OSB (oriented strand board – also known as ‘wafer board’) is common, tho, you can upgrade to a full 3/4″ with many manufacturers.
By all means stay away from any homes with rolled sheetmetal roofing, and metal siding. This type of home is closer to the ‘old’ definition of what you would see in a ‘trailer’ home. If you just absolutely must have the metal roofing… You should know that ‘rumbling’ is common… It is SUPPOSED to make noise. The metal roof has to be able to expand and contract, with the temperature change, and therefore, it is noisy in the wind….DO NOT put anything on top, to weigh it down, to try to stop the wind noise! You run the risk of causing problems with leaks, from the metal stretching, and/or tearing, at the seams, or other locations, because of the extra weight.
Inside the Attic….ALL manufactured homes make use of “engineered” trusses. The weight load has been calculated, and the trusses have been built to carry that minimum load…but there are different ways to achieve that. So.. Do not simply let the salesman tell you the home has an ‘engineered’ truss… They ALL have that…. That’s like going to a hardware store, and buying a hammer… That has a ‘handle’…. Of course it does… They ALL have handles, lol. Some of these manufacturers use smaller timber, to make their trusses…. They may be using only 1 1/2″ square lumber to make these trusses. Yes… The overall truss is rated to carry the weight… But the individual components can be pretty weak. The better quality homes use full ’2×4 studs’ to make their trusses. The result is stronger roof… It not only carries the weight required of it, but it is stronger overall… It will not come apart, as easily as one made of smaller components.
Attic vents….many homes come with the very simple ‘ridge vent’. This can be a cardboard like product…(naturally, that doesnt hold up as well)… Or it could be a product that looks like a Scotchbrite cleaning pad. A lot of ‘stick-built’ homes are even using this particular type of ridge vent. Then, under the eaves, you will have vented soffets. Other manufacturers, offer an electric fan, that will pull the heated air out of the attic space. This type of fan runs off of a thermo switch, and is a low voltage fan. It will use about the same electricity as a light bulb, and turns on, when it senses the heat build up in the attic.

3. Siding — go with vinyl siding, or, ‘Hardiboard’. Some of the newer homes are offering ‘Hardiboard’ as an option for siding. The ‘Hardiboard’ (brand name) is a cement product, that looks like wood plank siding. Obviously, it is resistant to bugs, and lasts an extremely long time. Some homes use ‘Hardiboard as exterior trim. The vinyl siding actually comes in two thicknesses. There is a cheaper product about 30 mil thick, and the better quality at around 45 mil. Just goto your local home supply store, and ask to see a sample of what they have in stock…. Most of these stores carry the heavier vinyl… Then, when you are shopping you can compare the feel of them. The thinner vinyl is much more susceptible to breaking, than the heavier vinyl. There are many styles of vinyl siding… And the actual ‘style’, or pattern, is not going to affect the quality, as much as the thickness of the vinyl. The better quality vinyl comes with a minimum of a 15 year warranty, provided, you keep it cleaned as instructred.
Under the siding — some homes offer wood sheathing as a standard, and some as an option — keep that in mind when comparing prices. The better quality homes will come with 7/16″ OSB sheathing. The lesser quality will come with ‘blackboard’, or just a thin layer of foam sheet insulation. This affects the strength of the walls, and the insulating properties.

4: Floors — Most manufactured homes come standard these days with a 5/8″ OSB subfloor. Some manufacturers offer actual 3/4″ plywood. The big factor here, between these two products is how long they can be expected to last, and what happens to them if they get wet. Plywood tolerates getting wet better than OSB. The OSB will be ok, if you dry it off right away… But if you let water set on it for any length of time, it WILL warp. Many homes come with particle board flooring… This is usually smoother on the surface than OSB, and allows vinly flooring to lay directly on it, with no underlayment. Again… If it gets wet…. You need to dry it immediately.
The floor studs need to be AT LEAST 2×6 floor joists… Many of the newer homes are offering 2×8 joists… The larger the stud you can get, the better off you are.

5. Floor covering — you can, of course find all kinds of floor coverings out there… From the traditional rolled vinyl flooring, and carpet, to laminate flooring, wood flooring…even ceramic tiles.
For the vinyl floors.. You want a heavy grade of vinyl floor….the thinner stuff tears too easily, and does not last as long. “Armstrong” makes a lot of vinyl flooring for manufactured homes, and is usually a good choice in vinyl.
For carpeted floors… You want a good foam pad under the carpet… At least 5/8″ thick…. 3/4″ if you can get it. The carpet itself should have a good backer, and heavy thread, or loop, count. Quick test… If you can poke an inkpen tip thru the carpeting, without disturbing the fiber or backing…. Its a low quality, lol.
For laminate floors…. Laminate flooring comes in many styles these days… From actual wood veneers and plywood backing to HPL (High Pressure Laminate — like the stuff on the countertops) with MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) backing. “Pergo” is a well known brand name…. Even with that.. You have to be careful of what you are getting. Most of the ‘snap fit’ laminated flooring comes with an MDF core, or backer… MDF is very stable… As long as it stays moisture free… Notice, I said “moisture”… Let alone actually getting ‘wet’. There are a whole list of do’s and don’ts for installing flooring with MDF core. I would rather have the wood veneer, or heavy vinyl flooring, myself, than the HPL laminated flooring. If youre looking for the wood flooring… Make sure it is either glued, or tongue nailed…. Do not accept anything that is “face” nailed (this means nailed thru the top of the board, straight down…. These nails WILL back out, and you run the risk of cutting any bare feet that are walking on them)
Ceramic, marble, manufactured marble, etc… Tiles are about the best you can get for long lasting flooring. Of course, in a manufactured home, that has to be transported, and then set-up… You can expect some mortar cracks that will need to be repaired. Some of which may not appear for up to a year, as the home settles. I like certain kinds of tile, myself, but not all kinds… This is really a matter of personal preference. But any of the heavy tile will last a good long time.

6. Frame — As I mentioned at the top of this post… ‘modular’ homes are made to have the steel frame removed once they get to the home site…. Therefore, the floor joists actually have rim joists and boards, like homes constructed on site, or ‘stick built’ as they are called. Any frame that is going to stay under the home, as with most mobile homes…. Needs to be a heavy gauge steel… Believe it or not… Some companies try to save money by putting a weaker frame under a home. This WILL result in problems down the road.

7. Plumbing — this is probably one of the fastest ways to tell what the overall quality of the home is going to be like….if you see ‘grey’ tubing with a copper band at the fittings or joints…. That’s a bad sign. While the tubing is acceptable, and does the job…. It will cost YOU more money later, to make any repairs, or changes. Qwest brand fittings are made of the same kind of plastic, and are compression fittings… They will cost you TWICE as much, at least, as any other type of fittings. Those copper bands are ‘crimped’ into place with a $100 crimping tool… Looks like a big pair of bolt cutters….so, you can either spend $100 on a crimping tool, or buy overpriced compression fittings.
The better quality homes will have cpvc plumbing (this is a cream colored plastic… Actually quite popular in ‘stick built’ homes too.) The cpvc is easy to repair, and maintain, and lasts a long time… As long as you don’t let it freeze, lol.
Copper pipe is often found in older ‘stick built’ homes…but the cpvc has become the plumbing standard over the recent years.
Shut off valves, and supply lines to fixtures… If you look under a sink, or at the toilet… You SHOULD see a shut off valve. I recommend a shut off valve for EVERY supply line, under EVERY sink. Even if this is an “upgrade option” — do it…. It means that if you ever have to fix a leaky faucet… You can leave the water on to the rest of the house, while you fix that one…rather than having to shut off the water to the WHOLE house….lol… The women and children will very much appreciate this fact, as the bathrooms will still work, while the problem fixture is being worked on, lol.
Now… Some manufacturers will have an ENTRY SUPPLY shut off valve. This one valve will turn off the water to the whole house. Some manufacturers do NOT offer this valve… If you buy a home without one… PUT ONE ON! These valves can sometimes be found UNDER the home (as is the case with most homes with the tubing), or it will be located IN the home… Usually near the washer hook-ups, or hot water heater.
When your home is installed…. Make sure your supply line is insulated, with heat tape applied to the length of it. The better quality homes will ALREADY have an electrical outlet under the home, near the supply inlet.

8. Windows …. Here, you want to see vinyl ‘double hung’ windows….with insulating glass panes. If the home has aluminum windows… That’s a lesser quality home. Whether the window has “battens” or “mullions” in it, is only a preference in looks, and does not alter the quality of the window any. If you buy a home with vinyl windows… Do NOT use oil to lubricate them… The oil will break down the plastic. Do not even use silicone sprays… As they also contain oil. Instead…. Lubricate vinyl windows and doors with WAX. Johnson’ furniture wax is an excellent vinyl lubricant, and I used to carry a can with me all the time, when servicing mobile homes.

9. Interior Amenities… Appliances, tubs, etc… GE, is a very popular brand with a lot of manufacturers. It’s a good brand too, and comes with its own warranty.
Bathtubs, showers, etc…. Many of these in the homes today, are made of acrylic. This is a heavy plastic. As long as it is supported properly, this isnt a problem. Some homes offer ‘garden tubs’, or even ‘spa tubs’.
Sinks…whenever possible, look for metal sinks…even in the bathrooms… They last longer. Some companies use plastic sinks in the bathrooms, to save money.
Cabinets …. This is another area, that some companies like to ‘glitz’ up a home… That is… They put in a cabinet that LOOKS pretty… But is actually, weaker structurally, than others. First thing to look at, is the cabinet door… What is it made of? The better homes will have a wood door frame, with wood veneer in the center panel… An expensive cabinet, will have raised panels, or the very expensive, will have actual solid wood panels. The cheaper quality (whether they charge less for it or not) cabinet door will be a particle board core, with a paper-like surface. The same applies for the ‘face frame’ of the cabinet…. The face frame is the wood that the doors are screwed into, that you see between the doors, etc… The better quality cabinet will have actual wood (normally oak is very popular here)… The lesser quality cabinet will have an mdf product with that same type of paper surface.
Trim throughout the home… This is usually the same kind of product as the cabinets….the lesser quality homes will have an mdf core trim, wrapped in paper. The better homes will have either an actual wood trim that has been ‘fingerjointed’ together, with a wood veneer, or thermoplastic coating. Just ask to see a sample of the trim, and flip it over and look at the back of it.
Interior Walls … MOST manufacturers, will use a 3/8″ inch sheetrock, with a vinyl coating (like a wall paper, over the entire sheet). This type of wall cover has a flat trim strip over the joint of each sheet, called a ‘batten’. This has the matching pattern on it. A lesser quality home… Will actually use paneling! But ONLY paneling.. As a wall cover. This was quite popular with a lot of older mobile homes. Today… It is common to see a ‘family room’, or ‘great room’ with ‘finished drywall’ — that is, they apply joint compound, and tape to the seams, and sand them. Then, many manufacturers will apply a texture pattern to the wall… “knock-down”, or “orange-peel” is fairly common. This texture is sprayed onto the walls with a hopper gun, like many ceiling textures. Most of the “good quality” homes will at least offer this type of wall cover as a standard for their large common rooms. The best quality homes will have 1/2″ sheetrock, finished, throughout the entire home.
Ceilings — the older ‘trailers’ all had an ‘insulated’ tile as the ceiling of choice. These days it is more common to see a ‘popcorn’ or ‘plaster’ texture. These finishes are really, just a matter of taste…. The ‘popcorn’ texture is sprayed on with a hopper gun…as is some of the ‘plaster’ type textures… Some of the ‘plaster’ texturing is done with a foam paint roller, that has the pattern cut into it. The ‘plaster’… Is actually just wall joint compound.
Now, some homes offer ’rounded’ corners, as a feature… This is actually a plastic moulding that is staped to the corner, and mudded in… Then painted over. This is really a matter of taste… And not an indicator of overall quality. The ‘square’ corners are usually made of the standard metal corner beading. Both of these items are found in ‘stick-built’ homes too.
Interior doors… You can find the flat surfaced doors, or, becoming more common, the ‘six panel’ doors. Actually, both are made of the same product usually, so its a matter of preference… But take a moment to look at the hinges….The better quality homes will have 3 house-type hinges on each door. The lesser quality homes will have 2, or sometimes 3, of a different kind of hinge. The better hinge has two full hinge plates… The lesser quality hinge, will be made so that one half, will close into the other half… The metal is thinner too.
Door Knobs… The cheapest homes will use plastic knob sets…. Stay away from those. The more common quality homes will have knobsets like you would see in the hardware store. E-Z set is a good common brand of knobsets and locks found in a lot of manufactured homes, and hardware stores.
Entry doors …. The better quality home will have a FULL size steel door (80″ tall — a lot of mobile homes only have 78″ high doors, and are a royal pain to find replacements for, lol) Storm doors are becoming an ‘option’ with more and more manufacturers, these days. But look for that 80″ steel entry door. That’s a good sign. Now.. Most companies, will put a cheaper door on the back…. Most of the time, it’s not a steel door… Sometimes it has a window, sometimes not. These doors often enter at the utility room…. Which.. As many homes as Ive worked on over the years…. This is the most commonly used door, with families, lol… So… Opt for the better door here if you can.

10. “Zoning” and Heavy appliance units — air conditions, furnaces, water heaters…. Don’t skimp on these items. By federal law… All homes are required to have a “data plate” located somewhere in the home. Many times, this is located on the backside of a kitchen cabinet door. On the data plate, you should find the home manufacturer, the model number, and serial number… And… What “zone” it was made for. There are two kinds of ‘zones’… The first relates to temperature. Naturally, a home going to an area with more winter, or colder winters, require slightly more insulation than those in a nicer climate. The second ‘zone’ refers to winds.. And how much wind penetration the home can stand up to. The homes sold in your area, MUST meet the minimum requirements… This will also be stated on the data plate…. It will most likely look like a map of the US. With the zones shaded into it. You CAN order a home with a higher zone rating then what is commonly offered in your area. SOME manufacturers AND/OR dealerships will offer homes made for the higher zone ratings. Ive been to a few dealerships across the country, that, as a matter of course, ordered the extra insulation, and wind zone packages, and they were standard features of their homes. They simply offered better homes than the other dealers in the area. Keep the zones in mind, when you are comparison shopping. Also, many manufacturers offer only a 30 gallong hot water heater, as their standard option… You want at least a 40 gallon. Rheem is a poplar brand. Whether it is gas or electric, depends on you. (Some electric companies will offer you a bonus, if you use an ‘all electric’ home…be sure to check with your utility company for that)
Same goes for the furnace/central air system… Do not settle for a unit that is not large enough to properly heat or cool your home.
Floor vents are another quick indicator of the overall quality of a home…. The lesser quality homes will have all the vents right down the middle of the home. The better quality homes will have the vents along the perimeter walls.
When you have the home set-up… Make sure that when they install the air conditioning… That they run the drain tube to the OUTSIDE of the home… Do NOT let them simply drop it thru the floor, to under the house. This will cause a moisture buildup, that will cause problems for you later. (Same goes for a dryer vent… It needs to run OUTSIDE the home, not under it).

Now, there are other options you can get with a home… Fireplaces, skylights, etc…. These are just ‘add-ons’, and are not a good indicator of quality. ALL manufacturers that offer ‘finished’ drywall rooms… Will put a PRIMER on it, whether it is mixed in with the texture or you get smooth walls. But it is ONLY primer…it WILL get dirty fairly quickly, and WILL NOT clean up well. It is ONLY primer. If you want the rooms to have actual PAINT… That will cost you extra, if they will even agree to do it. You should PLAN on painting the walls (at least… And ceilings when you can) after the first year of ownership.

Some dealerships offer a complete package deal… Setup, land, everything included… Others charge for each stage of the process…. So be sure to get that information too.

Financing — Watch Out here… You can get hit with hidden costs and fees, and high interest rates…. Compare the financing the dealership offers you, with a mortgage from your bank. Oh, and don’t think you can simply stop making payments on the home, if you have problems with your dealership, later on….the home mortgage is NOT the same company as the dealership… The dealer already has his money… And if you fail to keep up payments, while trying to resolve problems with a dealership… You WILL lose your home. It is better to keep making the payments… And goto the manufacturer, if you cannot get your issues settled to your satisfaction with the dealer. A dealer that becomes known as a ‘problem’, will get dropped by the better quality manufacturers.

Finally…. Most manufacturers offer a variety of home types, based on price range…. Much like the big car manufacturers do….you can buy a Chevy, Pontiac, or Cadillac… Or Ford, Mercury, or Lincoln… Each with a common frame, and different choices in trim and options, to accomodate the budget. The trick when comparing homes… Is to look at the overall quality of the home you are looking at.

Pay close attention to the details, and don’t let a salesman rush you into anything, hehehehe… Insist on taking pamphlets, floor plans, and any other information they have (and yes, they will have it all printed up, already), with you, to comparison shop… Do NOT be afraid to ask why one home is different from another….even on the same dealer’s lot.

I know this is a long post… I hope those that read it, benefit from it. Ive spent many years working on mobile homes, and to be frank… There are some manufacturers that I turned down for service contracts. I knew they were trouble, hehehe.

Happy Shopping!

bob mcalister answers:

We use kingspan insulation, marine grade plyboard , 3/4 inch, and yes you can use bitumen as flashing. I hope i am not being condescending, but the flashing is the bit that goes from the roof and a little way up the wall and is then “pointed” into the bricks, thus forming a water-proof barrier.

bob mcalister answers:

About $3,500

bob mcalister answers:

Here in N.C. When I put metal roofing on,I try to cover any ventilation hole with fiberglass screen wire,using staples to hold it in place.If I feel as though,one layer will not be enough to do the job,I will double the layer.From your question,if the places you are looking through is close to any place where water can get into my house,the builder should be held responsible for any water damage to your home.But if it’s only way out in the overhang,this is what I would do for it,because it allowes air into the attic.

bob mcalister answers:

Maybe you should fix it

bob mcalister answers:

These search terms have been highlighted: roofing shingles sold per year
Page 1
Construction, Demolition, and Industrial Waste Research
Summary
May 2006
Waste Characterization Studies
USEPA
• Characterization of Building-Related Construction and Demolition
Debris in the US
USEPA June 1998
Study looked at C&D generated in the country and summarized the waste
management practices for this waste stream. The methodology was to
combine Census Bureau data (construction and demolition permits and
construction value) on construction industry activities and point source waste
assessment data. The study found per capita generation to be 2.8 lb per
person per day. 43%c of waste from residential sources and 57 % from
nonresidential. Building demolition account for 48%, renovations account for
44% and 8% from construction sites.
California
• Statewide Waste Characterization Study
December 2004
Cascadia Consulting Group
A waste sort was completed using a stratified random sampling methodology.
Waste was sampled from a number of subgroups to develop a waste
composition profile for each stratum. In the C&D area, the data reflects the
total amounts of these material types disposed, regardless of activity
generating the material. The amounts listed in the C&D material class
cannot be used as an estimate of the total amount of C&D material disposed
in CA.
Wisconsin

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/wm/condemo/index.htm

• 2003 waste characterization study
The study showed that C&D comprise 28.7% of wastes landfilled in WI or
850,000 tons per year. Leading C&D waste streams are untreated wood,
roofing shingles, and rock, concrete and brick combined.
Complete report found at

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/aw/wm/publications

Page 2
Ohio
Waste Characterization summary—little info on NonMSW
Missouri
Missouri Waste Composition Study
Iowa
Pennsylvania
www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/recycle/Waste_Com/Exec_
Sum.pdf
2001 MSW characterization study completed by RW Beck using waste
generation indicators such as population, employment, number of
households, average municipal waste disposal rates collected from
communities delivering their waste to facilities that hosted sorts. Residential
and commercial sectors were targeted. Findings related to C&D include wood
was 5.8% of the waste stream and other C&D was 4.8%.
Florida
www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/quick_types/publications/shw/recycling/candd/CD
%20report%205-8.pdf
• C&D Debris Recycling Study: Final Report
Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Volume based composition study sponsored by the Florida Center for Solid
and Hazardous Waste Management found that dimensional wood (44%),
cardboard (11%), gypsum wallboard (8%), and roofing shingles (6%)
account for over 2/3 of C&D debris by volume. Weight based studies are
underway. In 1998, FL generated 25 million tons of MSW and C&D
accounted for 5.9 million tons or 25% of the total. Large fractions of C&D,
especially from transportation are not included in the total. Total amount of
C&D generated is estimated at 9.4 million cubic yards. 36% of this was
recovered and reused or recycled into:
o Crushed concrete and brick for road construction, drainage
o Concrete, block, masonry, and other clean debris used as borrow pit
fill
o Concrete brick washout used to make onsite containing walls and bins
o Reusable building supplies such as lumber and whole bricks
o Remanufacture of wood chips into engineered wood
o Wood fuels used in co-generation plants and industrial boilers
o Horticultural mulches made from natural woody material
o Dyed, decorative mulches made from construction debris wood
o Wood chips used as bulking agents in biosolids, compost, animal
bedding
o Planks and other dimensional lumber sawn from whole trees
Page 3
o Corrugated cardboard containers
o Metals (Steel, aluminum other nonferrous)
o Recovered screened material for approved uses
o Processed C&D debris used as daily cover
Florida statutes have few substantive provisions that promote C&D debris
recycling. These include that C&D debris must be separated from other MSW
during disposal, and an exemption from solid waste permitting for clean
debris used as fill. Disincentives include restriction on the amount of C&D
recycling that can be applied to the recycling goal, definition and regulation
of covered materials, which excludes most C&D, and that C&D disposal is
cheap as liners are not required at landfills.
A number of options exist for government to promote the recycling and reuse
of C&D:
o Open market for C&D debris collection
o Enact a “Recyclable Construction and Demolition Debris bill
o Require C&D to be processed before disposal (MA)
o Require liners for C&D disposal facilities
o Provide sales tax exemption for recycling equipment
o Provide grants to local governments to improve C&D debris recycling
o Provide low interest loans to recycling businesses
o Provide grants directly to private recycling companies

http://www.floridatrend.com/issue/default.asp?a+4198&s=l&d=11/1/2000

• Dumped On
Florida Trend article, November 2000.
Publications
• Waste Age
http://www.wasteage.com/ : articles available
• Trend Setters: Recovering C&D

http://wasteage.com/mag/waste_trend_setters_recovering/index.html

Communities in California have instituted several C&D recovery policies and
practices. Many of them are summarized. E.g. In Atherton contractors are
required to submit a Recycling and Waste Reduction Form to the town’s
Building Department when applying for a building or demolition permit. The
form estimates recyclable and disposable materials quantities that the
project will produce, and the contractor is required to post a cash deposit of
$50 for each ton of recyclable material, equaling no less than $5,000.
• Reduce And Recycle That Rubble
Page 4

http://wasteage.com/mag/waste_reduce_recycle_rubble/index.html

At the Regional Collection Center (RCC) project’s end, more than 30 tons of
concrete and cement block were separated for reuse as fill material by a local
business. More than 2.5 tons of scrap wood were collected and recycled by
Andrew Pallet Co., Des Moines. The Alter Scrap Metal Co., also of Des
Moines, received 1.25 tons of scrap metal (ferrous/nonferrous) from the RCC
project. Finally, more than a half a ton of cardboard was collected and later
recycled by a local processor.
MWA staff later calculated that their hauling and disposal budget was cut by
more than one-third due to recycling.
For more information on MWA’s Build It! SMART (Save Materials And Recycle
Today) program, contact: Kevin Officer, Environmental Specialist, MWA, 521
E. Locust St., Des Moines, Iowa 50309-1911. (515) 244-0021. Fax: (515)
244-9477. Other contacts are also available in the article.
• Recycling C&D in the Flight for Landfill Space

http://wasteage.com/mag/waste_recycling_cd_flight/index.html

Some landfills also do recycling for their own interest. Some examples are
listed. “When the company opened its new C&D landfill in Dothan, it
immediately installed a large grinder on-site and instructed workers to
separate most of the incoming wood and process it into boiler fuel. Metal and
clean old corrugated cardboard (OCC) also are separated. The remaining
waste is run through the grinder for a 6-to-1 volume reduction before
heading for the landfill.”
• C&D Recycling Report

http://wasteage.com/mag/waste_guides_19/index.html

May 01, 2004, Waste Age, BY REBEKAH A. HALL
The National Association of Demolition Contractors (NADC), Doylestown, Pa.,
has published “Demolition Industry Promotes C&D Recycling” to encourage
the development of a national construction and demolition (C&D) recycling
policy. The paper details how different states deal with C&D waste and
highlights current barriers to recycling the material. To order a free copy,
visit www.nadc.org (note, the homepage currently is
http://www.demolitionassociation.com , but I couldn’t find this report) or call
(800) 541-2412.
• Moving and Shaking

http://wasteage.com/mag/waste_moving_shaking/index.html

Oct 1, 2005 12:00 PM by Michael R. Taylor
Page 5
Some examples of forces affecting the growth of the C&D recycling industry
in some states
• Tackling C&D Waste:

http://wasteage.com/mag/waste_tackling_cd_waste/index.html

Dec 1, 2005 12:00 PM BY STEPHEN URSERY
An article about C&D recycling ordinance of San Diego and Chicago’s effort to
reach 50% recycling by 2007.
• Waste News

http://www.wastenews.com/headlines.html

Short summaries are available, to read the articles a subscription required.
• Recycling Today Magazine
Registration required (free)

http://www.recyclingtoday.com/categories/subcategory.asp?CatID=7

• Construction & Demolition Recycling
http://www.cdrecycler.com/magazine : articles available.
• State of the Industry

http://www.cdrecycler.com/articles/article.asp?ID=4844&AdKeyword=C%26

D+recycling
Four major challenges C&D industry faces this year: Disposal Ban in
Massachusetts (the ban covers concrete, asphalt, brick, wood, metals and old
corrugated containers), Changing the definition of Solid Waste in Florida
(they plan to remove C&D from the solid waste definition), Revision to Ohio’s
C&D regulation, Issue about gypsum wallboard made from flue gas de-
sulphurization (recycling is a problem because it contains mercury and EPA
made a “bad rule because it was overprotected” which “is killing the C&D
recycling opportunity”).
• MSW Management http://www.gradingandexcavating.com/msw.html
Articles available.
• BioCycle

http://www.jgpress.com/biocycle.htm

Some articles are free, but most of them require subscription.
Organizations
www.floridacenter.org
(4/5/2006)
Page 6
• Implementing Deconstruction in Florida: Materials Reuse Issues,
Disassembly Techniques, Economics and Policy
Charles Kibert, 6/00, #00-05 (2,114 Kb, 112 pages).

Http://www.floridacenter.org/publications/Kibert.pdf

• Recommended Management Practices for the Removal of Hazardous
Materials from Buildings Prior to Demolition
T. Townsend, 8/04, #0232009-04 (1.3 Mb, 65 pages).

Http://www.floridacenter.org/publications/Demo_Guide_04_FINAL.pdf

(2004).
• Contamination of Sediments in Street Sweepings and Stormwater
Systems: Pollutant Composition and sediment Reuse Options
Johan Leibens, 1/01, #00-10. (940 Kb, 73 pages)

http://www.floridacenter.org/publications/leibens00-10.pdf

• Disposal and Reuse Options for Used Sandblasting Grit Timothy
Townsend, 5/97, #97-8 (summary only, 13 Kb, 4 pages). For more
information on this subject, please visit Dr. Townsend’s solid waste page.

Http://www.floridacenter.org/publications/exec_97-8.pdf

• Synopsis of Report: Building for the Future: Strategies to Reduce
Construction and Demolition Waste in Municipal Projects
Bette K. Fishbein, June 1998.
The article identifies strategies that have been used around the country to
reduce C&D waste during design, construction, and demolition phases of
municipal building projects. The strategies include reusing existing buildings,
extending building lifetime through effective maintenance, designing
buildings to accommodate new functions and technologies, incorporating
durable, reusable materials into design plans, and deconstructing buildings
rather than tearing them down.
Http://www,informinc.org/buildfor future.php
Other States/Cities/Counties
Construction Waste
General
• Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Roundtable
Sector Sources: Construction and Demolition
Page 7
List of and links to conferences, funding opportunities, documents, expert
contacts, and questions.
• Construction and demolition Recycling
Institution Recycling Network, Wastemiser, waste management
List of resources on C&D including sample specifications for C&D recycling.
• Recycling Construction and Demolition Wastes: A Guide for
Architects and Contractors
April 2005 by Mark Lennon, Institution Recycling Network
Document provides detailed info on C&D recycling including “nuts and bolts”,
barriers and response, waste management plans, cases studies, and new
products from C&D.
Excellent reference—not fully printed out.
USACOE
• Concepts for Reuse and Recycling of Construction and Demolition
Waste
USACERL Technical Report 97/58 June 1999
The report identifies primary opportunities, constraints and means to diver
C&D debris from the solid waste stream, evaluates C&D material recycling
technologies and materials, identifies construction materials from existing
facilities that may be more directly salvaged or reused without substantial
alteration or reprocessing, and developed guidelines that project managers
can use to organize a construction project recycling program.
SWANA Website E-Library
• The Challenge of C&D: A Diversion Ordinance for Your Toolbox
Young, Rufus C., Esq., Burke, Williams, & Sorenson, LLP, San Diego, CA.
Model C&D recycling ordinance is provided based on California state law and
regulations.
• Recycling of Decommissioned CCA-Treated wood into Value-Added
Engineered Wood Products
Shupe, Todd F. And Chung Y. Hse
Research on the recycling of CCA-treated wood for production of structural
flakeboard was examined and a ratio of 50% treated wood with 50%
untreated wood was the optimum combination for this use.
• Life Beyond the Landfill
Page 8
Dugan, Kevin H., Collier County Solid Waste Management Department,
Naples, FL
Collier County has adopted a policy of diverting all C&D material from its
Class I landfill to prolong its useful life. Concrete material is used to build
artificial reefs.
• Operation of a Construction and Demolition /debris Processing
System in /St. Lucie County, FL: A Case Study
Grothe, Eric J., Vann, Kevin N., and Leo J. Cordiero
The processing facility utilizes screens, conveyors, an air separator, manual
sorting stations, and rotary shear grinder to process and recover recyclable
materials. The county also plans to mine the existing landfill to regain
capacity and deliver recyclables. 70 to 80 % of the total C&D waste stream
is recycled through the processing operation. The landfill life is estimated to
double to 45 years and 50% of its volume will be recovered. A mobile
screening system is used in the landfill recovery. Wastes not separated or
sorted at the processing facility are ground and disposed of in the C&D
landfill.
• Processing Construction and Demolition Debris as a Business
Larochelle, Leo R. And Byron Philbrick
This article describes the Environmental Resource Return Corp (ERRCO) C&D
processing facility in Epping, NH. The facility includes multiple picking
stations, shredders, floatation tanks and screens. 600 tons per day is
processed.
Washington State
www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/construction-recycling/calculate.asp
• Cost-Effectiveness of Jobsite Recycling
Provides guidelines for construction waste recycling at the jobsite. Recycling
fees are generally less than disposal in King County, WA.
Www.metrokc.gov/drnp/swd/construction-recycling/specs-plans.asp
• King County Solid Waste Division
• Design Specifications and Waste Management Plans. Provides
information on project design to promote recycling. Refers to example design
specifications, waste management plans, and subcontractor agreements.
California

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/lglibray/CandDmodel/Instruction/SB1374.htm

Page 9
California adopted a law in 2002 to promote the diversion of C&D wastes from
landfills through developing a model ordinance and requiring counties to provide
annual progress reports on the diversion of C&D wastes. Their website provides the
model ordinance (to divert 50 to 75% of the waste) and ordinances from counties
and cities that have developed and adopted the ordinances. The programs are
primarily
The website provides a guide for jurisdictions on how to develop a C&D ordinance.
• California Integrated Waste Management Board Model Construction
and Demolition Diversion Ordinance

http://www.ciowmb.ca.gov/lglibrary/canddmodel/modelord.doc

50-75% of the waste tonnage from a construction, demolition or renovation
project shall be diverted from disposal. Projects on which this is required
can include the cost of the project, the square footage; the program is based
on a diversion deposit and a Waste Management Plan. The Waste
Management Plan must be submitted with the volumes/amounts to be
diverted, the hauler, the facilities, the expected diversion rates, and the
amount to be disposed. The plan must be approved before a
building/demolition permit is issued. The diversion deposit can be based on
an amount of waste, square footage, project cost, fixed amount, etc. It is
returned when reporting shows the plan has been met. Onsite practices and
enforcement are also addressed in the model ordinance.
A number of jurisdictions have developed ordinances and these are on the
web page. These include Atherton, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Cotati, Fortuna,
Half Moon Bay, La Habra, Laguna Hills, Palo Alto, Oakland, /Sacramento, San
Francisco, San Jose, Santa Monica, Santa Rosa, and Willits. Counties include
Contra Costa, and San Mateo. Other sample ordinances are also included.
Discussion with Greg Dick of CIWMB (916 341-6489) indicates that all
jurisdictions in CA must recycle 50 % of all solid waste or the state takes
enforcement action. C&D recycling compliance was given time extensions,
but this will soon be up. He indicated that each county establishes a baseline
and then must report the amount of recycling done each year as a result of
the implementation of their ordinance. Alameda County in the Bay area has
established a recycling rate of 75% and provides additional technical
assistance to the municipalities in their county.
• Chapter 8.58 Construction and Demolition Debris Diversion Program.
City of Glendale, CA.
Www.ci.glendale.ca.us/gmc/8.58.asp
City of Glendale
Page 10
Building and demolition permits require a diversion rate of 50 percent for all
covered projects. Plan must be submitted along with a fee and diversion
security deposits, which is returned upon plan compliance.
North Carolina
• Do It Yourself Construction Recycling
Guidance from Mecklesburg County, NC.
Www.charmeck.org/Departments/LUESA/Solid+Waste/Construction+Recyclin
g/.
• Become an Accredited Professional in Construction and Demolition
Waste Management and Recycling
www.wgba.org/artman/publish/article_378.shtml
Wastecap training program for 5/2/06.
Iowa
Construction Waste Assessment: A Case study of the South Central Iowa Solid
Waste Agency Environmental Center. January 2004. Compared construction waste
recycling rates with those of USEPA study conducted in a 4 county area in IA.
Considered barriers to recycling—lack of available markets, distance from
processors, and cost of landfilling is cheaper than recycling. Found source
reduction as most efficient.
Minnesota
• Information on C&D recycling in MN from MOEA.
Www.moea.state.mn.us/res/V_9/barriers.cfm
• C&D Waste: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
www.moea.state.mn.us/greenbuilding/waste.cfm
Describes C&D recycling opportunities including the Minnesota Sustainable
Design Guide, recycling markets directory, construction waste reduction
opportunities, model deconstruction policy, and other resources.
• Construction and Demolition Landfill Recovery/Reuse Site Model
MNTAP website: www.mntap.umn.edu
Based on cooperative venture in Becker and Clay Counties in 2003. Provides
a four-step model for landfills.
Massachusetts
Page 11
• Mass. Ban on C&D Too Be Implemented

http://recyclingtoday.texterity.com/recyclingtoday/200510/templates/pagevi

ewer?pm
Article on proposed ban on certain C&D wastes in MA on 10/05.
• Looking for a Big Bargain?
Parade Magazine: www.parade.com
Describes materials exchange programs and their benefits.
Connecticut
• Construction and Demolition Waste

http://www.dep.state.ct.us/wst/recycle/candd.htm

Description of C&D waste, legal classifications, disposal options, list of fact
sheets.
Wisconsin
• Wastecap WI
Call with Shannon Delaney, Outreach Specialist. She described WasteCap as
a nonprofit funded by state grants, memberships and service charges. They
provide construction and demo recycling services for all types of construction
and demolition. They are effective as they reduce the cost for the builder and
contractors as compared to disposal. As of April 11, 2006, the Governor of
WI requires that all state building or construction must incorporate recycling.
• WasteCap Wisconsin Construction and Demolition Waste
Management Services
Describes WasteCap’s services for planning, t3echnical and education
assistance for construction and demolition projects. This includes
monitoring, measures, and documentation of efforts. Results of some
projects are provided such as Harley-Davidson Products in Milwaukee, WI
where there was a 76% recycling by weight and disposed costs reduced by
40%.
• Rethinking Debris
The Industry: Construction and Demolition Waste Reduction and
Recycling Tips
Article from WI DNR states that WI prohibits some metals, glass containers,
and cardboard from landfills and encourages recycling of four other materials
Page 12
from the C&D waste streams—wood, drywall, paper, and metals.
Suggestions are provided on how to prevent generation of these wastes and
better manage the wastes generated. Short case studies provided.
Illinois
• Construction and Demolition Site Recycling Directory

http://www..epa.state.il.us/small-business/construction-debris/

This website provides basic information on C&D debris management in IL.
Recycling is encouraged and technical guidance is provided in the document
available from Illinois EPA.
• Illinois Waste Management and Research Center
Green Development and Construction Program

http://wmrc.uiuc.edu/main_sections/tech_assist/green_development.cfm

Provides info on technical assistance provided by WMRC including Green
Building, C&D recycling, how to develop a program—specifications of Section
01010 Project Sustainability Goals and Section 01505 Construction Waste
Management. Green Building links are included.
Chicago, IL
• http://www.newrules.org/environment/chicago.html
Comprehensive summary of relevant rules, with links to City of Chicago
website. Rules were approved on 12/15/04 requiring C&D recycling. 25% of
all materials by weight must be recycled after 3/1/06. This increases to 50
% on 1/1/07. Contractors must submit info demonstrating their compliance
in order to obtain their certificate of occupancy as determined by the Dept. Of
Environment. Fines are also provided for.
• City of Chicago C&D Best Management Practices

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_ATTACH/ConstB

estMgmtPractices2.pdf
This includes site cleanliness, construction site recycling, and best
management practices.
Vermont
• Reducing Vermont’s Construction Waste

http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/wastediv/recycling/CandD.htm

Page 13
Websites with information to prevent and reduce waste generated during
construction. These include: Planning for Waste Reduction, Jobsite Case
Studies, C&D Reports, VT Green Building Network, and Contract
Specifications.
USEPA
• Building Strategies: Strategies for Waste Reduction of C&D Debris
from Buildings
USEPA-530-F-00-001, June 2000.
Provides general info on C&D recycling, information on model programs, and
some case studies such as an apartment building, corporate headquarters,
and office tower.
• RCRA in Focus: Construction, Demolition, and Renovation
EPA-530-04-005 September 2004
Document provides basic info on C&C management including identifying
hazardous waste and waste reduction techniques, applicable environmental
laws, and contacts.
Waste Streams
• Street Sweepings—see Hiway Recycling fact sheet on C&D for link to specs.
General
• MnDOT Waste Products in Highway Construction
April 1993
Information on fly ash reuse is provided.
• MPCA. Solid Waste Utilization—Standing Beneficial Use
Determinations
www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/swutil/sbud.html
Provides a list of MN standing beneficial uses—wood, newspaper, glass, latex
paint, porcelain fixtures, crumb rubber, tire shreds, tire chips, concrete,
bituminous, coal combustion slag, fly ash, foundry sands, uncontaminated
by-product limes, MOSS and tear off shingle scarp and the conditions under
which they may be reused.
Gypsum
• National Gypsum Company Wallboard Calculator

http://www.nationalgypsum.com/resources/wbcalculator.html

Page 14
Online program to calculate the amount of wallboard needed for a project by
dimensions.
• Street Sweepings—see Hiway Recycling fact sheet on C&D for link to specs.
• Agricultural Gypsum

http://www.alliedcustomgypsum.com/ACGmark_agriculture.htm

This website by Allied Gypsum describes two products they have that use
recycled gypsum for agricultural uses. Benefits of gypsum use are described
and links are given for amounts of gypsum needed.
• Beneficial Use of Solid Waste in Maine

http://useit.umaine.edu/materials/gypsum/beneficial_uses.htm

March 2006.
This article reviews how recycled gypsum can be combined with new gypsum
to create new wallboard. It also goes over how recycled gypsum alone can be
turned into new wallboard. Other uses for gypsum include castings in the
medical field and supplements in lakes and food for human or animal
consumption.
• Gypsum Drywall
2006.

Http://www.cdrecycler.com/categories/detail.asp?SubCatID=87&CatID=7

This website put out by Construction and Demolition Recycling has a variety
of links about the recycling and reuse of gypsum.
• Wallboard (drywall) Recycling
December 2004

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ConDemo/Wallboard/

This article by California construction and demolition reviews problems,
economics, waste prevention, reuse, and existing markets for recycled
drywall. It covers these topics fairly well and is a very informational article.
• Gypsum

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/gypsum/gypsumcs04.pd

f
January 2004.
This article was written about how much gypsum is mined each year by the
U.S. And countries around the world. It gives information on amounts mined,
what they were used for, and some recycling options. The article has a lot of
numbers for informational values.
Page 15
• Innovative Gypsum Recycling Program- Now in England

http://www.agcmass.org/emplibrary/MassRecycler%203.14.06v.3.doc

Gypsum Recycling America is now accepting new gypsum wallboard and
scrap for their Cambridge, Massachusetts facility. GRA will give competitive
pricing schemes to contractors, disposal contractors, owners, and builders
along with anyone interested in diverting new gypsum scrap away from the
landfills.
• Innovative Recycling and Marketing Gypsum Wallboard from C and D
Waste Stream

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/quick_topics/publications/shw/recycling/In

novativeGrants/IGYear7/fullprop/St.LucieProposal_05-06.pdf
2005.
This grant application form from the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection goes over requests for grant dealing with the recycling of gypsum.
The money from the grant will go to buying equipment to help with the
recycling of gypsum. The process of recycling the gypsum is covered in good
detail.
• Emissions Factor Gypsum Manufacturing

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ap42/ch11/bgdocs/b11s16.pdf

The EPA reviews the sales of gypsum and goes over some of the policies that
gypsum manufactures must follow regarding emissions from their facility.
The process of how gypsum products are made is shown.
• Waste Matters

http://www.nord.ca/services/swr/waste_matters/october_2005.pdf

October 2005
The Regional District of North Okanagan is partnering with other
organizations to build an environmental education centre. This article talks
about the plans for this centre, but the important part of the article is the
insert about gypsum recycling program. Okanagan recently banned any
recyclable gypsum products from their landfills and expects more than 600
tons of gypsum will be diverted to a recycling facility in Vancouver.
• Gypsum Wallboard Recycling and Reuse Opportunities in the State of
Vermont

http://www.p2pays.org/ref/23/22738.pdf

August 2000
Page 16
This report focuses on construction and demolition waste, particularly
gypsum waste. The report talks about recycling gypsum and some
alternative uses which include livestock bedding, cement production, flea
powder, grease spill absorbent, and many more.
• Waste Management at the Construction Site

http://www.pathnet.org/si.asp?id=1069

The paper discusses problems involved with construction and demolition
waste created in the U.S. Gypsum involved in building is starting to be
recycled, but many people do not recycle due to the price of new gypsum
being so low.
• Gypsum and Drywall Recycling

http://www.recycle.net/Minerals/gypsum/index.html

June 2006
The website recyclers’ world has many links to recyclers of gypsum and
drywall products along with equipment that is needed to recycle gypsum
products and gypsum recycling associations.
• National Gypsum to Recycle Waste Wallboard

http://www.national-gypsum.com/about/news/2005/news170.html

January 2005
National Gypsum Company has agreed to buy wallboard waste collected from
new construction sites in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. After this
program has started new programs are in going to hopefully be in the works.
• New West Gypsum Recycling

http://www.nwgypsum.com/english/home.htm

2003
New West Gypsum Recycling is a worldwide company with the headquarters
located in Canada that deals specifically with recycling gypsum products.
They have a good website that explains the entire recycling process from
start to finish and tells a little about the equipment involved in the process
and the environmental impacts.
• Recycled Plasterboard in Agriculture Applications Receive Funding by
Wrap

http://www.azobuild.com/news.asp?newsID=2121

April 2006
Page 17
The waste and resource program (WRAP) has received funding for two trial
programs that involve using gypsum in agricultural applications. The first
project would involve using recycled plasterboard for dairy cattle bedding.
The second project deal with gypsum being a good soil conditioner on
commercial farms.
Contaminated Soil
• The Reuse and Recycling of Contaminated Soils

http://www.grac.org/spring98/review.htm

By Stephen M Tesla.
Review of handbook for the use and reuse of contaminated soils. Discusses
field, laboratory, and engineering considerations for the many sources of
contaminated soils. (Copy of review only.)
• Reuse and Disposal of Contaminated Soil at Massachusetts Landfills
MA Department of Environmental Protection. Policy # Comm-97-001.
The policy describes allowable contaminant levels, procedures and
requirements for reuse and disposal of contaminated soils at lined landfills
including testing, tracking, transport or disposal of the soils. (Copy provided.)
• Memo #1 Petroleum –contaminated Soil Guidance Policy

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/der/starts/pr6star1.html

Spill Technology and Remediation Series (STARS) provides direction on the
management of petroleum-contaminated soil in NY, including beneficial
reuse. This includes in hot mix asphalt as an aggregate, in cold mix asphalt,
concrete, roadway subbase
• Innovative Uses of Compost- Composting of Soils Contaminated by
Explosives

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/compost/explos.pdf

October 1997
This article written by the EPA goes over how soil at ammunition sites gets
contaminated. The article goes over how composting the contaminated soils
clean the soil of any contaminants. The process involves microorganisms that
eat the contaminants that the soil contains. After this process the soil can be
used in any application normal soil would.
Page 18
• Land farming: Cleaning Dirty Dirt

http://web.missouri.edu/soilwww/290_2002/dirtydir.htm

This article contained information about soils that were contaminated by
gasoline. It goes over how bioremediation can clean the soil and remove
contaminants. Some problems with this process involve turning the
contaminated soil while the composting process is talking place. This may
create air problems along with odor problems.
• Remediation of Radioactively Contaminated Soils

http://www-emtd.lanl.gov/TD/Remediation/RadioSoils.html

February 1996
Radioactively contaminated soils can now be cleaned and used for application
that regular soils would be used for. The article goes over the process of how
this is possible.
• Heavy Oil Contaminated Soil Purification System

http://www.takenaka.co.jp/takenaka_e/techno/n41_oilsoil/n41_oilsoil.htm

2001
Bioremediation is used in the process of cleaning soil that is contaminated
with heavy oils. The site goes over the process and explains how
bioremediation works as a purification system.
• Bioremediation

http://www.ersremediation.com/bio/bio.html

Many examples of contaminated soils cleanup are given. They also list many
different contaminants and how each is treated.
• Contaminated Soil Treatment, Soil Washing, Soil Cleaning, Soil
Separation, and Sediment Treatment

http://www.art-engineering.com/Soil%20Treatment.htm

Website containing different cleanup sites. Pictures are shown and
explanations are given as to what is happening. Very informational and
pictures help visualize the processes.
• Reuse and Disposal of Contaminated Soil at Massachusetts Landfills

http://www.mass.gov/dep/images/97-001.pdf

August 1997
Page 19
The Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency wrote this policy to
inform the public on requirements, standards, and approvals for
contaminated soil use.
• Phytoremediation: Using Plants to Clean Up Soils

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jun00/soil0600.htm

August 2004
The USDA goes over some examples of how plants can clean up
contaminated soil and then be used to create energy. The process involves
growing the plants, cutting them, bailing them, and then burning them to
create energy. After that the ashes can be sold as ore because of the high
metal content.
• A Citizens Guide to Washing Soil

http://www.clu-in.org/download/citizens/soilwashing.pdf

May 2001
The EPA put out this booklet to inform the public on how soils washing works,
and what some benefits of soil washing are. An illustration shows the process
and how everything is done.
• A Citizens Guide to Thermal Desorption

http://www.clu-in.org/download/citizens/citthermal.pdf

April 2001
A booklet written by the EPA describing how desorption works and when they
choose this soil cleaning method. A picture shows how everything is prepared
and how the process takes place.
• Lead Contaminated Soils

http://epa.gov/region10/leadsoil.pdf

August 2005
The EPA created this pamphlet to inform new home owners along with
owners trying to sell their property about the possibility of lead contaminated
soils surrounding their homes. The soil is generally contaminated form lead
based paints that were used in the past. Health risks and testing procedures
are given.
• They All Like It Hot: Faster Cleanup of Contaminated Soil and
Groundwater

http://www.llnl.gov/str/pdfs/05_98.pdf

May 1998
Page 20
This in depth review goes over how soil at the Visalia superfund site was
cleaned much faster than expected by using heat as a main component in
the cleaning process. Aerial photos along with pictures showing how the heat
treatment works are included in the review.
• Contaminated Soil Disposal

http://www.remtech1.com/contaminated_soil_disposal.htm

The first fully approved soil disposal site for petroleum-contaminated soil was
approved and built near Spokane International Airport in Washington.
Fly Ash
• State Regulation of Fly Ash Use in Subbase Stabilization and Fill for
Highway Construction in the MN Region

http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlt/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id+JMCEE

7000015000
April 2006
Review of use of fly ash in MN, IL, LA, Manitoba, ND, SD, and WI. States are
looking at alternative uses for fly ash in addition to cement replacement in
concrete and use in aggregate for concrete or concrete products (MN). Most
states have some experimentation in flowable fill and soil stabilization
applications.
• Reuse of Incinerator Fly Ash in Soft Soil Stabilization
J. Mat. In Civil Engineering. Volume 15, Issue 4, pp335-343 July/August 2003
Fly ash is a potential source of jet grouting admixture for soil. Strength is
improved to more than 75 times that of untreated clay. Leaching of metals
was also reviewed.
Street Sweepings and Car Wash Sand Grit
• Reuse & Disposal of Street Sweepings
www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/laws/stsweep.htm
MassDEP. Policy #BWO-94-092
Street sweepings can be used for daily cover at landfills, fill in public
roadways, additive to restricted use compost.
• Guidance Document for Management of Street Sweepings and Other
Road clean Up Materials
www.state.nj.us/dep/dshw/rrtp/sweeping.htm
Solid and Hazardous Waste Program for State of NJ. 2/11/04
Page 21
Guidance for management of street sweepings is provided along with
examples of uses—fill for potholes, embankment for emergency road repairs,
containment/absorption for HW spill response, subbase fill, deicing/antiskid
material, landfill cover, and asphalt.
• Guidance for Municipal Management Practices for Street Sweepings
and Catch Basin Cleanings
Connecticut DEP, January 2005.
Guidance for management and reuse of street sweepings including fill on
industrial or commercial property, spill clean ups, and disposal.
• State of Connecticut department of environmental protection
guideline for municipal management practices for street sweepings
and catch basin cleanings

http://dep.state.ct.us/wst/solidw/street_sweepings.pdf

January 2005
Describes street sweepings and catch basins along with planning
considerations for both. Reviews storage regulations, filtering process, and
reuse options. Some options include; sweepings to be mixed with new sand
and used for application to roadways in winter, daily cover on active landfills,
fill for roadsides and medians as long as they are not located near a lake,
wetland or river, and mixing into concrete or asphalt operations.
• Contamination of Sediments in street sweepings and storm water
systems

http://www.floridacenter.org/publications/leibens00-10.pdf

January 2001
Article written to provide information on testing street sweepings and what
types of chemicals the sediment absorbs during the period of time it was on
the road. Goes over the process of how to clean the sediment and uses for
the sediment when cleaned. Some suggestions for cleaned sediment include;
park applications, playgrounds, landscaping, fill, unpaved roads, road
shoulders, and land application.
• Anchorage Street Sweeping Management Plan

http://wms.geonorth.com/library/Documents/Reports/BMP_Guidance/02_StS

wep_doc.pdf
Document No. WMP CPp02001, August 2002
Document explaining regulations for the town of Anchorage. Briefly goes over
federal solid and hazardous waste standards. Includes state of Alaska
Page 22
regulations. The document goes over some uses for street sweepings in
anchorage, which include; regrading snow removal sites, fill for street
maintenance and construction, and immediate use by street sweeping
contractors on public projects. Reviews plan to ensure environmentally sound
use and management of street sweepings.
• Reprocessing and Refuse of Street Solids

http://www.cwc.org/industry/ibp975rpt.pdf

June 1997
This report was written for the Clean Washington Center (CRC). The
Washington State Department of Ecology defined street sweepings as
municipal solid waste, which has had a large financial impact on both public
and private parties. In Washington State street wastes fall into two
categories. Class A street sweepings, which are mostly used for reuse on
streets for traction. And class B Street sweepings, which are used for landfill
daily cover. The report describes numerous ways that the waste is filtered
and cleaned.
• Reuse and Disposal of Street Sweepings

http://www.floridacenter.org/publications/leibens00-10.pdf

This policy written by the Department of Environmental Protection Reviews
many ways that street sweeping wastes are used in the state of
Massachusetts. Street sweepings in Massachusetts are considered solid waste
and must be taken care of according to solid waste regulations. Street
sweepings that meet requirements for daily cover at MSW landfills need no
approval from the DEP. The DEP does not need to approve street waste when
it is used for street fill or composting when certain criteria are met. Disposal
of street sweepings in landfills is permitted, but only used as a last source.
Alternative uses are being used because of landfill tipping fees, and increased
transportation fees.
• Fact sheet for Carwash Facilities

http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/HWB/data/Fact_Sheets/FACT%20SHEET%20

FOR%20CAR%20WASH%20FACILITIES.doc
This fact sheet was produced by the New Mexico Environmental Department
Hazardous Waste Bureau to provide information regarding waste produced by
commercial carwash businesses. Commercial carwashes produce hazardous
waste primarily from the sand traps located on site. Sand trap waste must be
tested and if determined hazardous waste the facility is responsible for
sending the waste to the appropriate storage site. Waste from these sand
traps is tested for heavy metals such as lead, Cadmium, and mercury using
Page 23
the EPA method 6010. Roughly 90% of this waste tested is not considered
hazardous waste and can be disposed of through other methods.
• Managing Street Sweepings

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/pubs/4_54.pdf

September 1997.
This fact sheet is written by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency reviewing
street sweepings and uses for street sweepings. Street sweepings are
described as sand, salt, leaves, and debris removed from city streets,
parking lots, and sidewalks. The PCA suggest not using street sweepings in
certain areas such as playgrounds, children play areas, residential yards, and
any area where human contact continuously occurs. Reuses suggested by the
PCA include; Mix with new for winter road application, daily cover on landfills,
and construction fill.
• Should Worcester Use the Green Hill Park Landfill for Street
Sweepings and Catch Basin Materials?

Http://www.wrrb.org/Reports/98-1greenhill.pdf

January 1996
This report written by the Worcester Municipal Research Bureau goes over
how Worcester should dispose of their street sweepings, and possibly use the
street sweepings to cover the Green Hill Park Landfill so it meets the current
landfill cap standards. This plan would take several years to complete, but
would take care of large quantities of street sweepings that otherwise would
need to be landfilled which would cost the community large amounts of
money. Some oppose this idea and believe the landfill should be capped
immediately due to environmental hazards. Worcester’s Department of Public
Works has made several plans that could be used to avoid the high tipping
costs and other costs involved in alternative disposal methods if the landfill
cap plan is approved.
• Management of Road Wastes

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dshw/rrtp/ss.htm

This document was written by the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection to explain the different contamination levels of road waste and
describes uses for this waste. The document describes management options
for both hazardous waste and non hazardous waste produced from street
sweepings and goes over how both of these materials must be handled and
stored. Uses for road waste are also discussed and many different options
are given.
Page 24
• Roadside Management and Maintenance: Beyond Vegetation

http://environment.transportation.org/environmental_issues/construct_main

t_prac/compendium/manual/10_16.aspx
This Policy was created by the American Association of State Highways and
Transportation Officials. The policy goes over what is considered road waste.
It describes how some is contaminated and cannot be used for anything;
where as other waste may be acceptable for many uses. The policy includes
information on catch basin waste as well as road and roadside dirt debris
waste. It gives reuse options for both.
• Road waste Management: A Tool for Developing District Plans

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/docs/Reports/RoadWasteMng_tool

.pdf
October 2000
This report was done for the Oregon Department of Transportation and
meant to assist in solutions for roadside waste. The report reviews current
waste management recommendations as well as future recommendations.
The report was created to help districts in determining how much and what
type of waste is being produced on their roadsides, and how to dispose of, or
manage the waste. A flowchart included in the chart helped to determine
what to do with road waste.
• Management of Street Wastes

http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/sw/sw-32.htm

May 2006
This fact sheet was written by the New Hampshire Department of
Environmental Services. It includes information including disposal, reuse, and
catch basin cleaning.
Foundry Sands
• Case Study: Low Energy Recycling of Foundry Sand

http://es.epa.gov/techinfo/case/michigan/mich-cs4.html

November 1995
Wolverine Bronze Company needed to find a way to recycle foundry sands
that was easy, cheap, and practical. Thermal recycling was tried first with no
success due to high costs. They then tried the low energy system design.
This worked better for them and results with the product were greater along
with the price being lower.
• Beneficial Use of Foundry Sand in Barrier Layers Construction
Page 25

http://geoserver.cee.wisc.edu/buic/current.htm

Foundry sands were studied and found to be a good material for barrier
layers for landfills and other environmental areas that may need some type
of natural cover. Foundry sands were tested and found to be just as effective
as clay so foundry sands can be used instead of virgin material for covers.
• Use of Spent Foundry Sand in Manufactured Topsoil

http://environmentalsoils.cas.psu.edu/foundrysand.html

2006
Foundry sands were used in topsoil applications for a Penn State experiment.
Results showed that some types of plants actually grew faster with the
foundry sands being the topsoil while none grew less than normal. Results
are shown with many graphs and explanations for each unit.
• States Regulatory Disparities, Stigma Confound Foundries Efforts to
Recycle Sand

http://www.glbma.org/news/010625-huron-sand.html

June 2001
State regulations determine if foundry sands are applicable to land. This is a
hot topic for many because foundry sands have been found to not be harmful
to the environment, yet some states still require the material to be land
filled.
• Foundry Sand

http://www.rmrc.unh.edu/Partners/UserGuide/fs1.htm

Foundry sand is defined and a good description is given. Disposal methods
and alternatives uses are listed with the process of how sand molds are
formed is shown.
• Foundry Sand

http://www.tfhrc.gov/hnr20/recycle/waste/fs3.htm

Foundry sand can be used as flowable fill. Flowable fill is a fill that is used in
many fill applications such as road beds, trenches that are no longer needed,
and abandoned wells. The process of getting the sand ready includes
crushing and screening the sand to reduce the size and remove any large
pieces. Construction methods are listed.
• The Foundry Industry…Recycling Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Page 26

http://www.afsinc.org/Govn/downloads/RecyclingBrochure.pdf

This brochure created by the American Foundry Society has many pictures of
how the recycling process happens and what end results are created. Facts
are given about some foundries that seem to be almost impossible, but
according to them are accurate.
• The Toxic Compounds and Leaching Characteristics of Spent Foundry
Sands, November 2000

http://www.brunel.ac.uk/controls/common/getImage.aspx?imageId=298

Some foundry sands are considered hazardous waste while others are not.
This is the problem when recycling comes into play. To be able to land apply
foundry sands they need to be tested and approved by your states EPA. This
report covers how leachate from foundry sands can be harmful to the
surrounding environment.
• Beneficial Reuse of Spent Foundry Sand

http://www.cwc.org/industry/ibp951fs.pdf

August 1996
Foundry sands can be used in many different things after it has been spent.
A list of many reuses is given which includes: asphalt concrete, composting
additive, concrete, bricks and pavers, and Portland cement.
• Using Waste Foundry Sand As Reactive Media in Permeable Reactive
Barriers

http://www.dnr.wisconsin.gov/org/water/dwg/gw/research/reports/147.pdf

January 2002
This study was done by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
along with the University of Wisconsin system.
• Resource Conservation Challenge: Reusing and Recycling Industrial
Materials

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/resources/bene-use.pdf

The Environmental Protection Agency lists coal ash, foundry sands, and
construction and demolition debris in this article and suggests uses for each.
• Case Studies of Beneficial Uses of Foundry Sands

http://www.epa.gov/ispd/metalcasting/reuseb.pdf

October 2002
Page 27
Reviews case studies in Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Virginia. Uses for the
sands are listed and performance is graded.
• EPA Guidelines: Used Foundry Sands

http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/pdfs/guide_foundrysand.pdf

September 2003
The environmental Protection Agency has guidelines that need to be followed
concerning spent foundry sands. The guidelines are explained for recycling,
disposal, and transportation.
• Geoenvironmental Behavior of Foundry Sand Amended Mixtures for
Highway Subbases

http://www.glue.umd.edu/aydilek/FSsand.pdf

June 2005
A laboratory-testing program performed tests that compared the use of
foundry sand for road subbase to the original material used for road subbase.
The results showed that the road with foundry sands for subbase was more
tolerable to cold temperatures like winter can bring. The water testing that
was done on the runoff showed that both were meeting standards set by the
EPA.
• Spent Foundry Sands

http://www.p2pays.org/ref/04/03273.pdf

June 1996
This short article gives a couple options for the use of spent foundry sands.
The article recommends using sands as embankments that would normally
be built out of soil. Another suggestion is flowable backfill.
• University Researchers Test Using Foundry Sand and Slag in Concrete

http://www.p2pays.org/ref/18/17260.pdf

Results from studies done at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee show
that foundry sand can be effectively used in concrete when the concrete
contains 35% sand. The second part of the article covers foundry sand used
in Portland cement.
• Waste Foundry Sand- A Resource in Composting and soil Production

http://www.nordicinnovation.net/article.cfm?id=3-853-326

2006
Page 28
European people are experimenting with foundry sands in a way that can
help them be more sustainable. They are mixing small amounts of foundry
sands into compost. The results are not yet known and the experiment is still
in progress.
• Recycling of Iron Foundry Sand and Glass Waste as Raw Material for
Production of Whiteware

http://wmr.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/24/1/60

2006
Foundry sand and glass can be mixed to make ceramic products. This would
decrease the amount of virgin material needed and be a good use for spent
foundry sand and glass.
• Recycled Foundry Sand

http://www.foundryrecycling.org/org/whatis.html

This article written by FIRST (Foundry Industry Recycling Starts Today)
explains what foundry sands are composed of and how sand can be recycled.
A beneficial reuse overview is given listing uses for recycled sand.
Shredder Fluff
• Texas Company Tackles Shredder Fluff- Turnpoint Engineering- Scrap

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3MKT/is_n227_v98/ai_9154386

November 1990
Turnpoint engineering has developed a way to create a gas from automobile
shredder fluff that can run a generator to create energy. Daily amounts and
other information on the process are given.
• Recycling company to Pay 20,000 Penalty for Environmental Violations

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/news/data/newsRelease.cfm?NR=268430&type

=2
August 2005
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency fined an auto recycling center in
Duluth, MN for not having correct licenses for hazardou8s waste generation.
Hazardous waste is generated while the shredding process takes place and
correct licenses must be present if not legal action takes place.
• East Washington Fluff

http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/waste/sps/download/phoenix/ewf.pdf

Page 29
A review of an auto shredder fluff site was completed and results were given.
The results showed some contaminants in the soil, but not in the
groundwater for the area. Future plans for the site are reviewed.
• Recycling Company to Pay 20,000 for Environmental Violations

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/news/data/newsRelease.cfm?NR=268430&type

=2
August 2005
A Duluth Minnesota salvage company has been fined for not possessing the
correct licenses for hazardous waste production. The Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency inspected the company and found large amounts of auto
shredder fluff that was considered a hazardous waste and no license was
present.
• Cover to Cover: Operational Problems With Alternative Daily Cover

http://www.nyfederation.org/PDF2005/49Pollock.pdf

This power point presentation goes over many different options for daily
cover at landfills. Auto shredder fluff is one possibility. Problems with stability
have been noticed along with other observations.
• Green vs. Green

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3012/is_10_179/ai_57513420

October 1999
Some automakers are now trying to create vehicles that are nearly 100%
recyclable. The problem is that many products that are recycled from
vehicles are much more expensive than new products that have not been
recycled.
• Management of End of Life Vehicles in the U.S.

Http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS01-01.pdf

March 2001
This report covers many things involved with the use of vehicles in the U.S.
Along with what happens to the vehicles when they have been dismantled to
be recycled. Uses of the recycled product are reviewed and regulations are
listed.
• Automotive Salvage Yard Waste Management Practices in Colorado

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/autosalvage.pdf

June 2006
Page 30
Good review of the auto salvage process including what to do with shredder
waste, and how it may be considered a hazardous waste if not shredded and
emptied properly.
• End of Life Vehicles in Ireland

http://www.epa.ie/NewsCentre/ReportsPublications/Waste/FileUpload,381,en

.pdf
December 2002
This report was written by the Environmental Protection Agency of Ireland on
end of life vehicles. Environmental concerns are reviewed and alternative
uses are given. Legislative topics are brought up and industry regulations are
mentioned.
MSW Ash
• Reuse of Incinerator Fly Ash in Soft Soil Stabilization
J. Mat. In Civ.Engrg. Volume 15, Issue 4, pp335-343
July/August 2003
Fly ash is a potential source of jet grouting admixture for soil. Strength is
improved to more than 75 times that of untreated clay. Leaching of metals
was also reviewed.
• Case Studies for MSW Ash Residue Re-Use Applications

http://www.ieabioenergytask36.org/task36_supporting_documents/task36_p

dfs/publications/Mangement_of_Residues_from_Thernal_Processes_Appendix
1.PDF
Case studies from six different countries are given along with results from
each.
• Use of Bottom Ash From Municipal Solid Waste Incineration as a
Road Material

http://www.flyash.info/2001/conprod3/37izqu.pdf

2001
This article written by the University of Kentucky reviews the use of MSW ash
for roadway beds. The results show that the ash is a good substrate for
roadbeds because it can be compacted easily.
• Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator Ash

http://www.des.state.nh.us/SWPlan/IV_IncineratorAsh.pdf

Page 31
Good background on MSW ash and how it is created. Health and
environmental issues are given along with recycling and disposal options.
Information on policies and grant programs are listed to inform the reader of
possibilities.
• MSW Combustor Ash

http://www.rmrc.unh.edu/Partners/UserGuide/mswca1.htm

This site gives a lot of good information on the entire process from how MSW
ash is created to how it can be dealt with. Both chemical and physical
properties are given and explained with tables.
Sewage Sludge and Sewage Sludge Ash
• Agricultural Uses of Sewage Sludge and Water and Their Impacts on
Soil Water and Environmental Health in Haryana India

http://crops.confex.com/crops/wc2006/techprogram/P12698.HTM

July 2006
This article written by the International Union of Soil Sciences explains how
the large population increase in India is causing problems with the amount of
waste being created. The most common use for waste sludge is adding to
cropland. This is good, but can only be done to a certain level due to heavy
metal that is being found in the waste.
• Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2002/June/Day-12/w14761.htm

June 2002
The EPA standards for the use and application of sewage sludge are given
along with much more information.
• Dumping Sewage Sludge on Organic Farms

http://www.ewg.org/reports/sludgememo/sludge.html

April 1998
In 1997 the USDA brought up the idea of using municipal sewage sludge on
organic foods. This brought up many ideas and differences among many
groups. Questions regarding the food industry and sewage sludge are very
common along with human health concerns. Large amounts of heavy metals
such as lead, cadmium, and mercury found in the waste are concerns.
• Using Composted Sewage Sludge in the Production and Maintenance
of Ornamental Plants
Page 32

http://www.agnr.umd.edu/MCE/Publications/Publication.cfm?ID=192

1992
Article written for the University of Maryland regarding the use of sewage
sludge in composting mix used for flowers, trees, and shrubs.
• The Beneficial Uses of Sewage Sludge/Biosolids

http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/Sludge/Beneficial.pdf

1996
This article goes over management practices, regulations on sludge use, and
land application uses for sludge. It stresses proper employee training to
those who may be applying sludge along with best management practices
being followed.
• Considerations for Dairy Farms Regarding the Use of Sewage
Sludges, Sludge Products and Septage

http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/Sludge/Dairysludgesummary.pdf

November 2003
This report covers some guidelines for the use of sewage sludge and some
suggestions are given about the amount that should be applied. The
surrounding areas to the land that is getting the application also need to be
considered.
• Biosolids Applied to Land: Advancing Standards and Practices

http://dels.nas.edu/dels/rpt_briefs/biosolids_final.pdf

2002
Possible uses of sewage sludge are given including land application and
landfilling. One method that was banned in 1992 was ocean dumping of
sewage sludge. In 1993 the EPA created regulations regarding the amount of
sewage sludge applied to land under the Clean Water Act.
• Disposal and Recycling Routes for Sewage Sludge

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/sludge/synthesisreport020222.pdf

February 2002
This report done by the European commission covers topics such as scientific
and technical analysis, regulatory analysis, economic analysis, and sludge
use acceptance analysis.
• Sludge Management, Processing, Treatment, and Disposal
Page 33

http://www.fwrj.com/articles2/9911.pdf

November 1999
Disposal of biosolids to landfill is considered a good alternative if methane
gas is being collected from that particular landfill. Otherwise this is not
considered a good alternative. If methane collection is not available land
application is the best alternative. Currently over half (54%) of biosolids are
being recycled in the U.S.
• The Dirty Work of Promoting “Recycling” of Americas Sewage Sludge

http://www.ijoeh.com/pfds/IJOEH_1104_Snyder.pdf

This article goes over what is considered sludge and how sludge should be
used in the environment. It also goes over how sludge can be a mixture of
things people do not normally think about when the term sludge is used.
• Sludge or Biosolids

http://www.neiwpcc.org/PDF_Docs/general.pdf

October 2001
This packet was created by the Environmental Protection Agency to let the
public know the difference between sludge and biosolids. Some suggested
uses are given for the use of biosolids along with beneficial treatment
procedures.
• Sewage Sludge Incineration

http://www.neiwpcc.org/PDF_Docs/sewage.pdf

October 2001
This packet was created by the Environmental Protection Agency to inform
the public on how sewage sludge can be incinerated. It shows the process
that takes place and also the equipment that is needed to complete the
process.
• Sewage Sludge Use on Agricultural Land

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/crpsl2/MF1168.PDF

1991
Kansas State University extension service wrote this article to inform people
about the uses of sewage sludge. It goes over the special restrictions for
sewage sludge that are required for land application to protect the
environment.
Page 34
• A Green Blue Print for Sewage Sludge Disposal

http://www.sas.org.uk/SAS%20Sludge1.pdf

This article has many good ideas and uses for sewage sludge. Some
examples include ag use, sludge compost, and forestry use. Each of these
uses is described in the report. Along with uses the report includes
information on heavy metals found in sewage sludge and how they may
effect our environment as well.
• Hard Facts About the Risks and Benefits of Using Treated Sewage
Sludge/Biosolids on Land

http://www.slopublichealth.org/environmentalhealth/simpler_risks_english.p

df
August 2000
This article explains how nitrogen, phosphorous, and micronutrients are in
biosolids and what form they are in. It also goes over the risks involved with
using biosolids because they may contain pathogens and heavy metals,
which may contaminate our groundwater.
• Land Application of Biosolids

http://www.lagoonsonline.com/landapply.htm

2003
Reviews how biosolids can be applied to land and crops for benefits. Some
facts are given about the amount applied each year, roughly half of the
sewage sludge in the U.S. Is land applied. Some alternative applications
include parks, golf courses, cemeteries, plant nurseries, and highway media
strips.
• Reclamation and Recycling

http://www.gesui.metro.tokyo.jp/english/rr41.htm

March 2004
This article was written by the bureau of sewerage in Tokyo. The article gives
a little different view on how other countries recycle their waste. Graphs and
charts show what they are doping with waste. Some pictures are given of
waste that has been dried and is in the final stage of the recycling process.
• Sewage Sludge Ash

http://www.rmrc.unh.edu/Partners/UserGuide/ss1.htm

Page 35
This product created when sewage sludge is incinerated has a couple
different uses. This website shows the process how it is made, and gives uses
for the final product. One of the uses they mention is concrete.
• Sewage Sludge Ash

http://www.rmrc.unh.edu/Partners/UserGuide/ss2.htm

This article is a second part to the above article. It shows results for
performance testing and material processing requirements. Other subjects
included in this article are engineering properties, design considerations, and
construction procedures.
• Resolving Application Issues When Using Sewage Sludge Ash as
concrete component

http://www.dundee.ac.uk/civileng/research/concrete/pii/sludge.htm

2004
This article was written about the possible uses for sludge ash and how it
may be able to be used for concrete products.
Coal Ash
• Workshop and “Construction “Demonstration for Use of Fly Ash and
Other Coal Combustion By-Products

http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CBU/sept_seminr.html

Agenda describing use of coal ash in mixed concrete, precast concrete,
flowable slurry for backfilling excavations, highway construction, etc.
• Coal Ash: Its Origin, Disposal, Use, and Potential Health Issues
EPRI
Beneficial uses of coal ash in the US include autoclaved aerated concrete
block, hazardous waste or liquid fixation, blasting grit, highway ice control,
cement additive, masonry blocks, concrete admixture, material in lightweight
alloys, concrete aggregate, roadway/runway construction, flowable fill
material, roofing granules, grouting, and structural fill.
• Combustion Products Recycling Consortium
Engineering and Environmental Specifications of State Agencies for Utilization
and Disposal of Coal Combustion Products
Page 36
Results show that all states have specifications pertaining to CCPs and their
application. The single most noted application is the partial replacement of
cement in concrete.
• Vermont: Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator Ash
MSW ash is used as landfill cover, road base material, and in cinder blocks.
Bottom ash may be used as a partial substitute for aggregate in the
manufacture of binder course pavement.
• Other Beneficial Uses of Coal Ash

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/025/chapter287/s287.665.html

1997
This article put out by The Pennsylvania Code is about beneficial uses for coal
ash other than land filling and soil substitution. The list contains uses that do
not require a permit in the state.
• What is Coal Ash?

Http://www.aep.com/about/coalCombustion/coalash.htm

2006
This website does a good job at explaining what coal ash is exactly and gives
some alternative us

bob mcalister answers:

Not really. That’s the problem with ivy is that the tendrils permanently attach themselves to vertical surfaces and ruin the surface. If it were a concrete or brick wall, you might get away with pressure washing them off. But, you probably wouldn’t be able to use enough pressure to remove the tendrils without damaging the vinyl siding.

bob mcalister answers:

The insulation needs to be inside the old roof, not between them.

bob mcalister answers:

If you have a rain gutter and downspout installed, all you need is a diverter. See link.

Otherwise, you could rig a simple system to catch the rain from the edge of the roof and direct it into a barrel or garbage can. A couple of 10-foot lengths of gutter attached to a 2×4 and supported by 2×4 legs, kind of like an elongated version of a simple sawhorse, with one end discharging into the barrel and the other elevated a foot higher, would be enough to do the trick and easy to move and store between rains.

See the second link for things to consider.

bob mcalister answers:

Bent staples and a rubber band- use it like a slingshot.

bob mcalister answers:

Stephanie, $320/sqft seems to be very high for the kind you want.

Your best bet is to get additional LOCAL free written estimates from local roofing contractors–the rule of thumb is three, since a lot of money is involved. It’s important that you get a local estimate and not rely on guesses found here on Yah, as the cost of material and labor greatly varies by location. As it is, there are plenty of local roofing contractors seeking to give free estimates with no obligation, and taking advantage of this is the consumer-smart way to go about finding an accurate answer to your question

Here’s a great link to a handyman site that offers free very resourceful information to assist you in your project, and, ultimately, selecting a local roofing contractor in an effort to get the best deal for you:

ROOF ING CONTRACTOR INFO:

http://yourhandymanzone.com/Your_Handyman_Zone_Free_Estimates_Roofing.htm

I’m sure you’ll find the information you need, specifically the tips, useful as it relates to being treated fairly by contractors and exploring the consumer-wise approach of getting free written estimates to find the best contractor in your area.

.
Source(s):
The Internet. Just whatever is available online and what I have on my mind, including relevant sites like the one cited that came about from my creative efforts, which is intended to be useful.

bob mcalister answers:

I have been researching this exact thing for my job as a maintenance manager. Our building is 500,000 sq ft metal roof (which leaks). I am so impressed with a couple of products I am thinking on using it on my Mobile home.
You didn’t say if your roof was metal, or shingled so I am going to tell you about 2 different products. The first from AMES is a water based Acrylic/ rubber product which they claim has a stretchability of 750% (it is very stretchy) and will cover either a metal roof or a shingled roof. It will also reflect 90% of the suns rays and make your home cooler and save you on energy bills.
The second is a petroleum based product from Truco it does and acts pretty much the same as the other, but they don’t recomend it for shingles. It seems to be thicker, when applied. It has an oder, but dries faster, and resist wash off in case it rains while our appling it. It also reflects the sun and saves you energy, and keeps your home cooler.
Yes, they both cost a little more, but I figure I can coat my roof for around 350.00 and have a good roof for many years. I don’t know about you but my moble home gets mighty hot in the summer, and I know I will save a bunch of money on A/C bills if I do this.

bob mcalister answers:

Your question poses several other questions….sorry…..i’m a professional roofer who installs metal roofing everyday.first of all if your soffitt vents are installed properly they’ll do their job. The box vents can be removed , more holes cut in the existing roof (towards the ridge)…and have a vented ridge installed. They are made for metal roofing these days.this is a passive technique and requires no wiring or mechanicals……solar powered attic fan?….perhaps if you’re in the southern belt……anyway ….all things considered it comes down to flashing this fan in the end…..the roofer should be able to do this………….i’m known as THE ROOF DOCTOR in these parts…..upstate NY

bob mcalister answers:

If your killing yourself for power then you must Truly be a weak man.

bob mcalister answers:

Sterling grey always goes well with blue. I own a roofing and siding co. And thats what I chose for my home. A great reflective colour of the sun as well.

bob mcalister answers:

Check with the Historic Society in your city. I have heard that in my city (Grand Rapids, Michigan), you can get some type of financial help if you intend to paint the home in original Victorian style/colors.

bob mcalister answers:

When a roof begins to leak, it may need to be replaced. However, on an otherwise sturdy roof, a repair of a small area may be all that is needed.

Typical costs:

* Repairing a 10×10-foot square of asphalt shingles, considered one square of roofing, runs $100-$350 using a roofing company. Repairing a few missing or broken asphalt shingles through a handyman service runs $95-$127.
* Reparing wooden shingles using a roofing company for a 10×10-foot square costs $210-$1,000. Repairing a couple of broken or missing shingles using a handyman can run $135-$175.

What should be included:

* Roof repair jobs should include the installation of new shingles, sealing with a roof cement product and cleanup of any old shingles and debris.

Additional costs:

* Flashing is the metal or vinyl stripping that acts either as a sealed barrier between the roofing material and chimneys or skylights, or when the roof slopes into a valley where the flashing material helps water run off into a gutter system.
* When the vinyl or metal flashing that seals the edge of a skylight to the roofing material tears or is pulled away from the skylight, a leak will appear and costs $300-$500 to repair.
* Valley roof flashing, which is used anywhere on a roof where slopes create a valley where water drains off, runs $15-$25 per linear foot to repair.
* Faulty flashing around a chimney is priced $200-$500.