To Top of PagePre-Demolition Inspections. A first step in renovation or demolition projects is a walk-through visual inspection of the area. The purpose of this is to identify any items which will require special handling and disposal, such as thermostats, fluorescent lamps, and mercury switch-containing devices. Other hazardous materials which don't contain mercury need to be identified as well. Materials which are difficult to identify or are suspected of being potentially hazardous should be isolated, until they can be identified or tested to choose a disposal method. Also, identify which materials are to be removed and sold for reuse or processed and recycled.
Recycling and Reusing Demolition Materials. The demolition wastes which are delivered to landfills should only be a portion of all the material initially at the demolition site. The landfill fraction is only the materials that can't be economically recovered and don't require special disposal arrangements. Recover all marketable timber, metals, fixtures, concrete, and other materials that can be reused or recycled. Most recycling plans succeed when someone in the company takes responsibility for the program.
Mercury in Demolition Projects. State and federal laws prohibit the disposal of mercury. Recycling is required when possible. Mercury has been used in many devices, products, and applications often found in the course of renovation and demolition.
In general, don't remove elemental mercury or a component such as a switch from the device. Keeping the device intact, remove and store in a sealed container in a manner that will prevent breakage, spillage, or release. Most devices can be removed with simple tools, such as:
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Using newer models of many mercury containing devices
such as fluorescent and HID lamps, thermostats, water heaters, and washing machines
helps the environment in many ways. First of all, many of the new models of
these devices contain considerably less mercury than the old models. Secondly,
all of the new models are much more energy efficient. Using less energy enormously
helps our environment. Energy production has many bad effects such as large
amounts of air pollution and emission of greenhouse gases. Activities such as
strip mining are also used to get some fossil fuels that we use to burn energy.
Using energy efficient products also helps keep mercury out of our environment.
The combustion of coal, one of our most prominent energy sources, releases large
amounts of mercury into the air, which then cycles into our food and water supply.
When shopping for appliances and energy using devices in your building or home,
look for the U.S. Governments Energy Star Label (shown above). This label recognizes
the most energy efficient devices on the market. Appliances that are very energy
efficient will usually cost a little more to purchase. However, the costs will
certainly be offset by the increased savings on your energy bill when you use
them. Since today's consumers are much more environmentally aware than they
were 20 years ago, selling an environmentally safe product is definitely a marketing
advantage.
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Develop a Waste Management Plan. A key step in the construction
industry is developing a waste management plan. There are several plan
options for waste recycling, such as jobsite clean-up service, commingled
recovery, jobsite separation, and self-haul. A jobsite clean-up service
requires the subcontractors to place all waste in a designated area/container,
while the hauler handles the separation and recycling. Commingled recovery
is the separation of mixed waste and recovery of the recyclables off-site.
Jobsite separation, on the other hand, is the separation of recyclable
materials into separate containers done on the jobsite by the subcontractors.
For example, the subcontractor would be in charge of storing the mercury
devices in safe containers for recycling. The last, self-haul, requires
the builder to handle, transport and tip all materials.
Frequently the general contractor will provide a dumpster on site for use by all subcontractors, but another approach is to require subcontractors to remove their own waste, which can offer several benefits. Though subcontractors will likely charge more to include disposal, the elimination of jobsite containers gets rid of the additional costs general contractors often have to pay as a result of drive-by contamination. This approach also promotes the efficient use of building materials by establishing a direct link between installer and disposer. In addition, this waste management method improves the jobsite appearance and makes recycling by the subcontractors easier because it prevents the commingling of waste. |
Contractors Come into Contact with Mercury. Mercury-containing products that contractors come into contact with are: batteries, gauges, lamps, switches, relays, sensors, manometers, thermometers, flame sensors, and thermo-chemical devices. When a product like these is broken and improperly cleaned up, mercury vapors enters the atmosphere or the wastewater stream. To prevent such occurrences, it is important to have effective spill response measures. Instruments that contain mercury should be labeled and proper procedures should be followed when handling.
What is Pollution Prevention? Pollution prevention, or source reduction is the act of preventing waste at its source. By increasing the efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources, you can reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants. Reducing mercury at its source benefits individual companies and your community, and because of mercury's global cycling patterns, mercury reduction benefits the entire global environment. Pollution Prevention also helps alleviate costs and resources associated with controlling, removing and managing mercury contamination in the environment. For example, some accidental mercury spills have cost approximately $3,000 to clean up. Mercury can be reduced at its source by using products and devices that are mercury-free as alternatives to those that contain mercury. For example, digital and alcohol thermometers can replace mercury thermometers, and electronic thermostats are alternatives to mercury-containing thermostats.
Benefits of Pollution Prevention for Companies:
| ~ | Savings from reduced need for pollution control equipment and monitoring |
| ~ | Elimination of waste transportation, storage, and disposal costs |
| ~ | A healthier workforce and community from reduced exposure to hazardous materials |
| ~ | Reduced costs for compliance with disposal regulations |
| ~ | Improved public image from taking positive steps towards your community's waste problems |
| ~ | Reduced liabilities through the elimination of waste, both from lower insurance costs and possible future liabilities that may result from the improper disposal of waste. |
The subcontractor shall at all times keep the building and the premises broom clean of debris and any other waste materials generated from the performance of this contract. The subcontractor is responsible for the removal from the site and proper disposal of all the debris created by its work.
Mercury Spills, Prevention and Cleanup Contractors will probably continue to come into contact with mercury for some time to come. Therefore, it is essential to handle these mercury-containing items safely. Small droplets of mercury may lodge in cracks and sinks, mix with dust, accumulate on work surfaces, and adhere to fabrics, shoe soles, watches, gold, and other jewelry. This allows for mercury to potentially be transported to other locations, homes, or businesses. Mercury spills can be very costly when they occur. They are often very expensive to clean up, require many hours of labor, and the room in which the spill occurs is unavailable for use until it is decontaminated. It is important to have the right equipment for dealing with mercury spills on hand, such as a spill cleanup kit, to limit the amount of mercury released into the atmosphere.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that for an adult of average weight, exposure to 0.021 milligrams of inorganic or organic mercury per day in food or water will probably not result in any harm to health.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set the legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) at 0.1 mg/cubic meter, not to be exceeded at any time.
According to The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) the recommended airborned exposure limit is 0.05 mg/cubic meter averaged over an 8-hour workshift.
The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Inc. (ACGIH) declared the recommended airborne exposure limit for mercury vapor to be 0.05 mg/cubic meter averaged over an 8-hour workshift.
These exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin contact also occurs, a worker may be overexposed even if air levels are less than the limits listed above.
When working with objects that contain mercury, be careful not to spill it. In case you do, follow the guidelines for cleaning up mercury spills. Workers working around mercury should wear protective clothing and gloves along with mercury respirators that prevent them from breathing in mercury vapor. If you have people who are constantly exposed to mercury, they should be regularly be tested to make sure they are not suffering any health effects due to the exposure.
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When waste such as large amounts of fluorescent bulbs, broken mercury switches, batteries, or thermostats end up in landfills, many times the chemicals have a chance to escape either through the ground (if there is no liner) or into the air. For that reason, many landfills do not accept this type of waste. Many times demolition waste is recycled to recover a number of materials including wood, concrete, and soil. If this waste also contains crushed up hazardous building components, the workers' health is at risk and the value of any recovered products is reduced.
It is important for demolition contractors, construction contractors, and those involved in remodeling and maintenance of buildings be aware of these risks and take the time and effort to remove hazardous items from the waste stream before they pose a threat both to people and the environment. It is much easier to separate out hazardous items at the beginning of a job than it is to pick them out of a dumpster full of waste. If the items are identified and removed at the beginning, they can be recycled and not end up in our environment.
Many states now have strict regulations regarding the disposal of mercury containing devices. You need to contact your state's environmental management agency to find out what they are. Illegal disposal of hazardous waste can carry heavy fines if you get caught. Some states have mercury pickup programs. To find out what your states mercury disposal program is, contact your environmental management agency or the nearest EPA district.
Liability of improper disposal of hazardous wastes varies from state to state, depending on the laws regarding hazardous material the state has. However, if mercury is not disposed of properly, the cost to remove it from a water supply or a landfill is much more than the cost to remove it from a building. To check with your states liability guidelines, consult an attorney or try to contact your states environmental management agency or hazardous waste agency.
When you properly dispose of mercury containing products, keep the transport and recycling destinations well documented. First of all, if you do a mercury cleanup, carefully note all materials that contain mercury you remove. If you use a commercial or hazardous materials carrier to transport the mercury once you have it, keep the bills of lading and all shipping records. When you get to the recycling station, keep the receipts, invoices and any other proof that they received the mercury. This will prove that you followed all the proper steps to keep the mercury you cleaned up out of the environment.
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