C&D Waste Characterization Study

As it sought to better understand the types and quantities of Construction Waste and Demolition Debris (C&D) materials that are generated and disposed in the region, the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA) selected GBB to perform a two-season Waste Characterization Study to serve as the basis of understanding what materials are being disposed and help guide the Authority as it develops strategies and programs to recycle and divert more C&D material.

The study, conducted at the Landfill site where the 3 C&D waste streams (from the Landfill, the Harrisburg Transfer Station, and the Lancaster Transfer Station) are disposed of, was performed following American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) D5231 guidelines where practical.

Recycling Waste Characterization Study

Shortly after changing the requirements for curbside recycling to only allow the “big four” recyclables (flattened cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs with narrow neck openings, metal food and beverage cans, and glass jars and bottles), a major departure from the previous recycling requirements, the LCSWMA tasked GBB with performing an initial characterization study on the collected recycling stream. Nearly a year later, GBB was tasked with performing a nearly identical study to be able to compare the results and to see what differences there might be after some time and additional educational efforts.