Three years before he got into the waste-disposal business, Ray LaLonde became a father. And having kids who are growing up in the era of environmental consciousness has had a profound impact on the way he runs his company.
“I don’t use landfills any more,” says Mr. LaLonde, owner of Clean Away Disposal, which serves the Metro Vancouver region and specializes in removing debris from small to medium construction projects – in particular, buildings that are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified.
“I have three young children and I care about the environment, and I don’t like where it’s going. My eight-year-old and my six-year-old twins have their own recycling bins, and it’s hard to explain why a lot of recyclables end up in landfills. It doesn’t make any sense. Everybody’s got to do their part to make a difference.”
The construction industry is a major source of waste. But combine the popularity of green buildings with the fact that many jurisdictions have already implemented recycling bylaws on construction sites, and the need for eco-friendly enterprises such as Mr. LaLonde’s is only going to escalate.
According to Construction Specifications Canada, an industry association, construction and demolition waste – such as asphalt, concrete, gravel, bricks, ceramics, plumbing, insulation, wood, glass, metal, and electrical fixtures – make up 23 per cent of the overall waste stream. The industry is also the greatest producer of wood waste, making up between 25 and 45 per cent of all solid waste generated in North America.
In Portland Ore., one construction project, a 5,000-square-foot restaurant, yielded 12,344 pounds of waste, including 7,440 pounds of wood, 1,414 pounds of cardboard, and 500 pounds of gypsum wallboard – materials that are all recyclable.
Source: The Global and Mail
By Gail Johnson