Sources of Construction and Demolition Debris
Targeting local sources of C&D
We are often asked where our C&D waste comes from. It’s a complex question, but one of our favorites because the answer helps tell a larger story about the economy of waste.
Landfills accept large amounts of waste at relatively cheap rates from relatively great distances. Virginia, for example, is one of the largest waste importers in the U.S. because highly rural and cash poor countries in the south are receptive to very large landfills for their tax base. These landfills can take in garbage cheaply because they have relatively low overhead and often spread costs over thousands of tons per day.
By contrast, a mixed waste recycler such as Ace Waste has relatively high overhead. This makes it unfeasible to accept the cheap volumes that are required when waste comes from far away. So we target local sources of waste. Local waste generators are willing to pay more for disposal in return for saving time and money on transportation costs. The result is a lower number of vehicle miles traveled for waste disposal, which is an added environmental benefit.