Acceptable Materials for both Commercial & Residential Customers
Construction & Demolition Debris
Construction and demolition debris makes up the largest portion of the daily waste stream. C&D debris results from construction, remodeling, repair
or demolition of buildings, roads or other structures. It includes (but is not limited to) wood, concrete, sheetrock, masonry, roofing, siding, structural metal, wire, insulation, asphalt, packaging materials related to construction or demolition and natural vegetation resulting from clearing land for development.
When C&D debris is delivered to the facility, Plan-It Recycling employees sort through each load. Hazardous materials, such as propane tanks, tires, car batteries, and CRT?s, are removed and segregated for proper recycling. The next items that are removed from the waste are, wood, metal, and anything that is inert. These items are put into separate piles for further processing. The remaining material is loaded and transported to a landfill for disposal. Please see the list below for a description of where material goes.
Wood Waste
Wood waste is sperarated into two categories: Clean Wood and Demolition Wood. Clean wood represents whole trees, tree parts, brush, pallets, and dimensional lumber that has not been fastened or treated. Demolition wood represents painted and stained wood, wood that has been fastned with nails, bolts or other means, and laminated wood (plywood, ect). The wood is shredded into chips for use as fuel at licensed wood-fired boilers. Metal fasteners removed during the shredding process are segregated and accumulated in a dedicated roll-off container for recycling. Stumps are shredded into chips for use as erosion control.
Recyclable Waste
Recyclable wastes are materials that are immediately available for recycyling and or require minimal processing for use as a recycled material. The list below is an example of materials that are recycled.
Universal Waste
Used electronic products are the most rapidly growing problem in our waste stream due to their quantity and toxicity. Electronic wastes, such as TV, computers, and computer components, contain toxic substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium, lithium, brominates flame-retardants, phosphorous coatings, and PVC plastics that create dioxins when burned. Other Universal Waste is certain batteries, cathode ray tubes, certain lamps, mercury devices, mercury thermostats, and polychlorinated biphenyl ballast. These items where typically thrown in the trash. Most of this type of waste contains heavy metals. This type wastes when broken such as in a dumpster or landfill, or when incinerated, release the metals to the environment and pose a threat to human health and our environment.
Many electronic wastes are regulated as hazardous waste when generated by businesses. TV?s and computer monitors generated as waste by households must be managed in accordance with Maine?s E-Waste Law which establishes a system in which consumers, municipalities, and manufacturers share responsibility for ensuring that these items are properly recycled to reclaim all useable materials and prevent the release of toxin?s to the environment. For more information on toxics in your home go to www.Maine.gov/dep/rwm/homeowner/index.htm. For information on the Maine E-Waste Law go to http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/ewaste/