Construction and Demolition Debris Volume Falling More Slowly in 2010

Date: October 1, 2010

Source: News Room

Construction and demolition debris (C&D) waste volume for 2010 is showing signs of improvement or at least is falling more slowly than last year's decline of 20% from the year before. Preliminary Waste Business Journal (WBJ) statistics indicate that C&D waste volume for 2010 will be down between 8% and 10%. WBJ estimates that the US will generate 104 million tons of C&D waste in 2010, down from 114.6 mil. tons in 2009 and 143 mil. tons in 2007. On the bright side, new processing facilities augmented by improved processes has improved the overall recycling rate to 28%, up from 23% in 2001. Higher disposal fees at landfills in recent years has created an incentive to recycle more as well. That leaves 75 mil. tons for disposal, of which 36 mil. tons will go to C&D landfills and about 31 mil. tons will go to sanitary landfills, which either have C&D only cells or are simply the more convenient option. The remaining 8.5 mil. tons will go to waste-to-energy plants or industrial boilers.

WBJ estimates parallel the latest figures from the Commerce Department which indicate that while construction spending was down 10% in the year ended in August, total construction spending edged up 0.4% between July and August to $812 billion, driven by increases in public construction activity including stimulus and base realignment projects, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Private residential construction decreased 1.7% during the past year while private non-residential spending plunged 24%. While public construction spending increased by 2.5% between July and August, it is still down 1% from August 2009 to August 2010, driven largely by declines in state and local tax revenue.

Waste Business Journal's Construction & Demolition Debris Report, which includes historical volumes and pricing as well as five-year forecasts, is available for $99 by calling (619) 793-5190 or email: info@wastebusinessjournal.com. (Data includes detailed state by state, regional and national statistics)

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