| DEP SURVEY DOCUMENTS
ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF
RECYCLING CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS
(04/69) TRENTON -- Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today
released a survey that shows builders and contractors save
money by recycling construction and demolition waste, while
also providing environmental benefits.
"When builders and demolition contractors recycle
they not only lower their operating costs, but also conserve
natural resources and reduce demand for landfill capacity,"
said Commissioner Campbell. "We encourage all companies
that handle construction debris to use one of the numerous
recycling facilities across the state."
DEP's survey completed in April 2004 indicates that the
average cost to recycle construction material like concrete
rubble is $4.85 per ton versus an average of $75 per ton
to dispose of the material in a landfill. The survey shows
similar cost savings to recycle other material, including
asphalt at $5.70 per ton and bricks and block at $5.49 per
ton. Recycling scrap wood costs $46.43 per ton and felled
trees and stumps average recycling costs are $37.69 per
ton, both an economical choice when compared to the $75
average disposal cost.
In 2002, 4.5 million tons of construction and demolition
debris was recycled in New Jersey, the latest statistics
available for the state. New Jersey's recycling industry
employs more than 27,000 people in New Jersey with total
receipts valued at $5.9 billion annually.
DEP is updating its Statewide Solid Waste Management Plan
to identify ways to increase recycling, composting as well
as source reduction and the removal of household hazardous
waste from the normal disposal stream. DEP held public hearings
in 2003 on a draft plan to get comments from interested
parties and expects to release a new proposal for public
comment this summer.
Nearly 100 DEP-approved recycling centers in New Jersey
accept construction and demolition debris. To find the location
of these recycling centers, visit DEP's Web site at www.state.nj.us/recyclenj.
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