Third Annual New England Construction and Demolition Materials Summit Leads to Agreement on Action Steps By Industry, Government and End Users
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. - Massachusetts Environmental, Land Use & Real Estate Alert, 2009
On January 16, 2009, the Environmental Business Council of New England held its Third Annual Construction and Demolition Materials Regional Summit in Westborough, Massachusetts. Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. was the Platinum Sponsor of this event and Steve Richmond, Shareholder at Beveridge & Diamond, served as the conference chair and moderator.
Approximately 175 people participated in the summit from throughout New England, representing construction and demolition material (C&D) generators, C&D processors and recyclers, C&D material purchasers, federal, state and municipal government officials, trade association representatives, consultants, and other interested parties.
The summit began with a keynote address from Commissioner Laurie Burt of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), who spoke of the growing regionalization of the C&D market and the efforts that MassDEP was undertaking to expand both the supply and the demand for C&D materials.
The keynote address was followed by presentations that were structured to include several components:
- An overview of construction and demolition (C&D) market data for the New England Region;
- Focused discussions of specific C&D material streams, including the opportunities for developing more robust markets for these streams, and the barriers that exist to achieving those markets; and
- A concluding action agenda discussion in which participants were asked to develop and commit to specific action plans that could be implemented over the next year to pursue market development and overcome identified barriers.
The following action items were developed at the summit for pursuit during the coming calendar year and efforts have begun already to implement these items. We hope to review progress on each item at the next annual C&D regional summit in 2010.
Asphalt Shingles
- A group comprised of representatives of asphalt manufacturers, processors and recyclers will seek a meeting with Commissioner Luisa M. Paiewonsky of the Massachusetts Highway Department, seeking a commitment from MassHighway to agree to specifications that allow the use of some recycled material in asphalt used in state highway construction and repaving. Ben Harvey, of E. L. Harvey & Sons, Inc., agreed to coordinate this approach.
- MassDEP agreed to review the asbestos testing requirements at facilities that recycle asphalt shingles to determine whether those requirements are consistent with the level of risk that has been identified and the testing requirements imposed in similar operations. Jim Colman, of MassDEP, agreed to coordinate this review.
Gypsum Wallboard
- A group will be convened by the recycling industry to approach Commissioner David Perini of the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM), seeking a commitment to require recycled content in gypsum wallboard used for state construction projects. MassDEP will separately explore opportunities for use of recycled content with DCAM.
No coordinator was identified for the recycling industry portion of this activity. Volunteers are requested. Jim Colman, of MassDEP, agreed to coordinate the MassDEP portion of this activity.
- A meeting among interested parties and MassDEP will be held on the advisability of expanding the disposal ban to include clean gypsum wallboard. Jim Colman, of MassDEP, agreed to coordinate this activity.
- MassDEP will initiate a discussion, within the context of the state’s solid waste master plan revisions, of the advisability of requiring source separation at certain construction/ demolition sites. Jim Colman, of MassDEP, agreed to coordinate this activity, and Bob Petrucelli, of Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts, agreed to actively participate on behalf of his membership.
For more information on the Third Annual Construction and Demolition Materials Summit, please contact Steve Richmond at srichmond@bdlaw.com.
