One of state’s largest construction projects recycling majority of its waste
by Stephanie Brien of WasteCap Wisconsin, April 11, 2007

When Phil Hayes started working as the project manager on the new Weston 4 Power Plant, he never imagined they would be able to recycle even half their construction debris. Two and a half years later, the project is recycling 80 percent of its waste and has diverted more than 10 million pounds of materials from landfills.

With recycling dumpsters set up for everything imaginable, this Wisconsin Public Service project has been able to save wood waste, copper wire, steel reels and many more materials. As of March 15, wood and cardboard recycling has saved the equivalent of 9,400 trees, according to Ralph McCall, senior project manager for WasteCap Wisconsin, the nonprofit organization hired to develop and monitor the construction debris recycling program at the Weston 4 site.

But Hayes said, even with McCall’s assistance, such a high recycling rate would not have been possible without cooperation from everyone on the job site. That includes nearly 40 contractors and more than 900 workers. They are working together to complete what was Wisconsin’s largest construction project when it began in late 2004 and is now the largest construction waste recycling program in the state.

Bonnie Dawes, Investment Recovery Specialist with Wisconsin Public Service, said besides minimizing what is put in landfills, she hopes the project can strengthen environmental awareness in the community. Dawes said all contractors are trained in the recycling program during their orientation.

“I’m hoping that they take that [training] away from this,” Dawes said.

Recycling construction debris is also saving the Weston 4 project money in avoided disposal costs. By reducing their waste, Wisconsin Public Service has saved more than a quarter of a million dollars, according to WasteCap Wisconsin’s latest report.

Besides construction debris recycling, Wisconsin Public Service is also benefiting the environment by reducing power plant emissions. The new plant will have air emission control equipment that will utilize chemicals to react with mercury, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, Hayes said. After the reaction occurs, the emissions will condense into a solid form that can be captured. The $752 million project, scheduled to be completed in June 2008, will spend $120 million on air emission controls. While reduction of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions are required, there were no state requirements to reduce mercury emissions at the start of the project. It was Wisconsin Public Service’s choice to install extra control equipment, just as it was their choice to recycle construction debris.

“That is exactly what everyone should be doing,” Wausau Mayor Jim Tipple said. “We are a throw away society. We have to get away from that.”

Mayor Tipple is signed up to attend a recycling tour of the facility on April 18. The event, which will run from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m., is a WasteCap Wisconsin Talk & Tour. Guests will get an inside view of this large construction project and see first-hand how Wisconsin Public Service has recycled more than three- quarters of its debris. To register, please visit www.wastecapwi.org/events.

Weston 4 Power Plant was nominated for the 2006 WasteCap Wisconsin Big Diverter Award for highest recycling rate on a new construction project and will be nominated again for 2007.

For more information, contact Shannon Delaney at 414-961-1100 or sdelaney@wastecapwi.org

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