by Kathy Price-Robinson
It’s said that the cost of getting rid of
job-site waste currently averages about
half of 1% of the total cost of most jobs,
or about $500 for a typical house. Given
dwindling space in existing landfills and
public opposition to the construction of
new ones, that figure seems likely to
increase. At the same time, some jurisdictions
are beginning to enact “trash
rationing” ordinances.
A few months ago, for example, contractors
in Arroyo Grande, Calif., found
themselves faced with a new hoop to
jump through in order to pass final
inspection on their projects: to prove
that they diverted 50% of their job-site
waste from local landfills via reuse or
recycling. Builders who don’t