Management of construction and demolition waste in the Region of Waterloo

Abstract

This paper examines the existing construction waste management program in the Region of Waterloo to identify strategies for increasing waste diversion rates. The construction industry is a major economic driver in the Province of Ontario but it is also one of the largest contributors to landfill usage. The industry generates a large amount of solid waste, of which only a small fraction is recycled. The diversion rate for construction waste is currently at 16%, which is significantly below the 60% target specified in the 2004 Ontario Waste Diversion Goals. In this study, diversion options are identified for six waste streams: wood, concrete, steel, drywall, asphalt, and shingles. An economic evaluation of the cost of recycling these materials was also performed. Research findings indicate that there is poor monitoring of construction waste management in the region. Recycling costs can be minimized by increasing diversion rates for four waste streams (concrete, steel, drywall, and asphalt) rather than by imposing 60% diversion across all streams. However, even with optimized diversion, there is little incentive for the construction industry to recycle - the minimum cost of 60% diversion is 15% more costly than landfilling options. An assessment of the landfill disposal fee structure is recommended to identify strategies for incentivising waste diversion; for example, imposing higher landfill fees may encourage higher waste diversion rates.