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St. Louis Group Takes Aim at Construction Waste
To help meet the growing need for more environmentally responsible
business practices, concerned area companies and agencies
have united to form ReSource St. Louis, an organization dedicated
to enhancing recycling efforts and materials reuse in the
St. Louis region.
The organization, which spans private and public, profit and
non-profit, and large and small company sectors, strives to
promote corporate citizenship and strengthen community resources
in the following ways:
Reduce dependence on landfills as the primary method of
disposing of construction and demolition waste.
Reduce the overall impact of construction practices on the
local and global environment.
Partner with like-minded manufacturing and construction
companies to recycle construction materials cost effectively;
Increase awareness of sustainable building operations and
maintenance practices for the St. Louis region.
Create a successful business model that can be shared with
other regions and organizations.
Roughly 12 percent of waste sent to landfills in the United
States comes from construction and demolition projects even
though three of the largest waste components on most job sites-cardboard,
wood and drywall, which make up 75 percent of job-site waste-are
recyclable.
ReSource St. Louis member businesses work with partnered manufacturers
to consolidate, recycle and often share construction materials.
The result is the diversion of tons of resources from area
landfills and the development of a cleaner, healthier local
environment.
For information, visit the organization's Web site at www.resourcestlouis.org
of call Sara Graham of the Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum architecture
firm
at 314-754-3989.
Construction Equipment Exports Gained
10 Percent in First Half
Exports of U.S.-made construction machinery totaled $6.68
billion for the first half of 2006, a 10-percent increase
compared to January-June 2005, according to the Milwaukee-based
Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
Central America took delivery of 44 percent more American-made
construction equipment during the first half of 2006 compared
to 2005 by midyear, for a total of $638 million, and South
America increased its purchases 16 percent to total $950
million.
Export volume to the Asia region overall declined 19 percent
(a total $694 million). However, exports to China gained
20.5 percent for the first half of 2006 to total $114 million.
The only other world region showing a decline was Europe,
17 percent to $892 million, for the first half of 2006.
Exports to Africa grew 66 percent and totaled $318 million.
Canada took delivery of $2.53 billion worth of U.S.-made
construction equipment, a 22 percent gain, and exports to
Australia/Oceania increased 10 percent, representing $657
million worth of construction machinery.
Army Corps Adopts Precast Specifications
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has adopted guidelines
requiring precast concrete used in drainage structures to
come from plants certified by the Indianapolis-based National
Precast Concrete Association.
The Army Corps specification includes sewage systems, subdrainage
systems, storm drainage systems, utility structures and
communication structures.
The requirement applies to military agencies affiliated
with the Army Corps, including the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy,
U.S. Air Force and NASA.
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