Did you know that you can achieve TRUE certification for a construction project?
Construction and demolition debris accounted for more than twice the amount of generated municipal solid waste in the U.S. in 2018 alone, and yet the opportunity for these materials to be reused or recycled is immense. Certifying your construction project with TRUE dramatically reduces waste, reduces purchasing needs for future construction projects and demonstrates leadership in a field that has long been a leading culprit in global carbon emissions.
TRUE certification focuses on upstream choices, which means that it can be used as a guideline to help developers, architects, general contractors and subcontractors make purchasing and planning choices for a project to reduce wasted materials, time and money. The cost savings from reducing and reusing and the revenue from recycling can help a project stay on budget.
“Genesis Marina, a TRUE construction project that I’m currently working on, has been able to reduce their hauling cost by 20% when compared to a common construction site," explained Denise Braun from All About Waste. "The cost savings are coming from several different strategies, such as packaging reduction, diverting more materials from landfill and other reduction initiatives. Some trades are even willing to take back products/materials whenever there are leftovers. In addition, the Genesis Marina project was able to reduce cost by reusing tools, equipment and even office furniture in their jobsite trailer! The savings in this project will be up to 30% or more."
The Genesis Marina project will eventually connect Northern California's scientific community with some of the most modern and cutting edge facilities designed to date.
Using the TRUE Rating System as a foundation, Genesis Marina has already achieved TRUE precertification as a step along their journey to achieving TRUE certification for the project. “Construction is one of the leading industries in waste, but it doesn’t have to be,” says Soonrock Park, the Webcor senior project manager overseeing Genesis Marina. “Webcor has always led bold initiatives in construction; our pursuit of TRUE certification for this project is just one example. TRUE encourages all participants, from designers to end users, to consider the full circular economy of the materials we bring to a site and use within our operations. The goal is to divert all solid waste from the landfill, incineration, and the environment.” TRUE for Construction may apply to a different type of project and phase of a facility, but adheres to the same definition of zero waste, diversion calculation method, and acceptable diversion methods listed in the TRUE Rating System.
If you’re looking to minimize your construction and demolition waste, pursuing TRUE for Construction is a great opportunity to integrate zero waste strategies into your project from the very beginning.
Rethink your construction and demolition waste management and consider TRUE certification for your next project. Questions? Reach us at [email protected].
The Webcor team behind the Genesis Marina project received their TRUE Precertification certificate at Greenbuild San Diego.