Waste Management & Recycling Flashcards

Which federal regulation primarily governs the disposal of construction and demolition (C&D) debris as non-hazardous solid waste?

Answer: RCRA Subtitle D

RCRA Subtitle D regulates non-hazardous solid waste management, which includes most C&D debris disposed at landfills.

Which material recovered from demolition projects has the highest recycling rate in the U.S. construction industry?

Answer: Concrete

Concrete is the most recycled C&D material in the U.S., commonly crushed and reused as aggregate base material for roads and foundations.

A Construction and Demolition Waste Management Plan primarily requires documentation of which of the following?

Answer: Projected quantities of materials to be recycled, salvaged, or disposed

C&D Waste Management Plans document projected quantities of materials destined for recycling, salvage, and disposal to track and verify diversion from landfills.

What does a 'landfill diversion rate' measure in demolition waste management?

Answer: The percentage of waste diverted from landfill through recycling or reuse

The landfill diversion rate is the percentage of total project waste that is recycled, salvaged, or reused rather than sent to a landfill.

Which of the following best describes 'commingled' C&D debris collection?

Answer: Mixing all demolition waste in a single container for later sorting at a facility

Commingled collection places all C&D debris into one container and ships it to a materials recovery facility where mechanical and manual sorting occurs.

Under EPA regulations, which of the following C&D materials is classified as 'universal waste' requiring special handling and disposal?

Answer: Fluorescent light tubes containing mercury

Fluorescent lamps contain mercury and are regulated as universal waste under 40 CFR Part 273, requiring separate collection and disposal from regular C&D debris.

What is 'source separation' in demolition waste management?

Answer: Sorting demolition materials by type at the job site before removal and hauling

Source separation involves sorting materials such as metal, concrete, and wood into separate containers at the demolition site to maximize recycling value and reduce disposal costs.