Shelby County's CLEAN BUILDER'S GUIDE
Prepared by: The Shelby County Environmental Programs Department
6449 Haley Road
Memphis, TN 38134
(901)379-4430
lisa.williams@shelbycountytn.gov
Clean Building is Important
The Shelby County Environmental Programs Department, the county agency known for its work in litter prevention and recycling, has identified construction and demolition sites as a major source of litter in Shelby County.
Keeping your construction site clean not only improves its appearance, but increases worker safety by lowering the chance of an accident, thus decreasing liability. Since your name or your company's name is posted prominently on site, maintaining a clean construction site should be a matter of pride as well.
This brochure is designed to help you demonstrate a commitment to litter prevention, recycling and waste reduction on your construction site.
BASIC PRINCIPLES
- All contractors, sub-contractors and workers must work to keep the job site clean. This idea should be made clear to all and should be mandatory -- not optional.
- Subcontractors and/or supervisors are responsible for monitoring their suppliers and their workers.
- Covered trash containers should be provided for employee garbage (for example, lunch waste); use of the containers should be enforced. Containers should be emptied regularly, but not into dumpsters of construction/demolition waste.
- Someone should be designated to inspect the work site daily and pick up any trash.
- A common trash area (dumpster, roll-off, etc) for construction debris should be provided.
- Any products that can be recycled should be directed to the proper facility, while other leftovers should be given to charities and other non-profits.
THE NEXT STEPS
The saying "measure twice, cut once" is a good one. Careful planning and ordering of supplies will reduce overall costs. Reducing waste will reduce waste disposal costs. Consider recycling materials that can be recycled and donating usable supplies to groups like Habitat for Humanity.
BENEFITS AND RESULTS
You will see a number of benefits by following the guidelines offered here, including:
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Cleaner job sites, which ultimately reduces liability;
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Positive visibility in the community -- good advertising;
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Through waste reduction and/or recycling, lower waste disposal costs;
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Less litter on nearby streets and less chance for being fined on littering; and
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Environmentally aware contractors, sub-contractors and workers.
For more information on keeping your job sites cleaner and wood waste recycling, please call the SCEPD at (901) 379-4430.
CLEAN BUILDER'S CHECKLIST
Simple Steps Towards Litter Prevention and Waste Reduction on the Construction Site
Inform all employees and sub-contractors of the intent to maintain a clean job site and, whenever possible, reduce waste and recycle or reuse salvageable materials.
Stress that participation is mandatory -- not optional.
At pre-construction meetings, stress the importance of maintaining a clean job site.
Sub-contractors are responsible for monitoring their supplies and employees
Send a written notice to any sub-contractor or supplier who fails to clean up
Treat noncompliance the same as any other violation of your contract
Make arrangements for employee garbage. Require that employees comply.
Designate an area for lunch. Provide a covered barrel or trash can for food waste
Designate a person to check the area every day and pick up any trash
Empty containers as needed -- but not in any container with construction trash
Develop a plan to keep dirt from the project off the street and out of nearby waterways.
Arrange for a dumpster or roll-off container for all subcontractors to dispose of trash and debris.
Evaluate the possibility of recycling lumber, drywall, corrugated cardboard and metal. If recycling is an option, provide a designated area with containers for each recyclable material.
If recycling is not an option, make every effort to salvage materials for re-use. If you or your subcontractors cannot reuse these materials, donate them to an organization that builds housing for low-income families, such as Habitat for Humanity.
Be sure that all hazardous materials are disposed of in accordance with federal, state and local requirements.
Shelby County Environmental Programs Department
6449 Haley Road Memphis, TN 38134
901-379-4430
