If you encounter artifacts during the course of construction, please do the following:

Non-government applicants

• If you encounter possible human remains you must contact 911. If you find artifacts that appear to be at least 75 years old, you should avoid the area of discovery and contact a professional archaeologist as soon as possible.
• Visit www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/ARCH/ or call 503-986-0671 for more details, or assistance with finding qualified archaeologists.

City bureaus

• Follow protocols in the City Construction Specifications Manual. 

• Lower development costs. 
• Conservation of natural resources. 
• Reduced carbon emissions.

Renovation

The greenest building is the one already built. Renovation of an existing building allows for the continued use of a structure without significant investment in new materials. Preserving character-defining features and materials in older buildings can also make a renovated building more marketable.

Grants and low-interest rate loans may be available for renovation projects. Contact: Portland Development Commission, 
503-823-3200.

Historic Preservation

For buildings at least 50 years old, listing in the National Register of Historic Places offers several incentives. The Special Assessment tax program freezes the assessed value of a property for ten years. A substantial benefit can be gained if assessed value is frozen prior to a major property rehabilitation.

The Historic Tax Credits program offers a federal income tax credit equal to 20 percent of qualified rehabilitation expenditures. Depending upon circumstances, the credit can be used by the owner or could be sold to a tax credit equity partner.

• Visit www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/zoningpresincent for Portland Zoning Code incentives for historic preservation. 
• For information on historic listings contact the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability at 503-823-7666. 
• For more information on tax incentives contact the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) at 503-986-0671.

Building Relocation

In some situations, an existing building may be relocated to a new site. Selling or donating an existing building for relocation can eliminate many of the labor and disposal/recycling costs associated with traditional demolition. Costs associated with moving the building and utilities (overhead lines) are typically handled by the new owner of the building.

Visit www.oregonmetro.gov/toolkit for a list of building relocation companies.

Deconstruction / Selective Salvage / Reuse 

When restoring or relocating a building is not feasible, consider deconstructing the structure. Deconstructing a building in the opposite order of construction preserves important historic materials and allows for the reuse of remaining building and finish materials such as dimensional lumber, trim and flooring. These materials can be incorporated into another building, sold or donated to material salvage companies for a tax-deductible receipt.

If full deconstruction is not feasible, salvaging the historic or architectural elements from a building prior to demolition (selective salvage) assures that the historic or architectural assets of the structure are not entirely lost. 
Deconstruction of a structure can yield valuable building, finish and architectural materials. Containers are used to collect mixed and separated construction and demolition debris for later recycling.

Visit www.oregonmetro.gov/toolkit for a list of salvage and deconstruction service providers.

Recycling

Recycling materials is often less expensive than disposing of the same materials. Many waste construction materials can be recycled into new products and fuel. Recycling reduces the need to extract and process raw materials, thereby reducing the demand for natural resources and energy.

For maximum recycling results, separate materials for collection (e.g., wood, metal, cardboard). This ensures that the materials are recycled to the maximum extent possible. In contrast, mixing of materials (placing construction waste in a single container for later sorting) will result in a significantly lower overall recycling rate. Keeping food waste out of containers will also ensure that materials are recycled and not turned away or sent to the landfill due to contamination.

Visit www.oregonmetro.gov/toolkit or call 503-234-3000 for a list of recycling facilities searchable by material and location.


1995

The City of Portland begins regulating construction and demolition (C&D) debris. The ordinance and associated administrative rules required projects with a value of $25,000 or greater to recycle a minimum of 50 percent of construction debris generated at the job site, and mandated the recycling of five primary materials including metal, cardboard, wood, land-clearing debris, and rubble (concrete/brick).

Since 1995, projects meeting the $25,000 threshold, and later $50,000 threshold, have been required to fill out a Pre-Construction Recycling Plan Form, which explains the C&D requirements, and requests information on waste materials generated and the method of collection or if it was reused at the site.

1997

The $25,000 threshold is increased to $50,000. The rationale at the time was that projects valued between $25,000 and $50,000 did not generate substantial amounts of recyclables.

2006

A resolution is adopted and Portland City Council directs the then Office of Sustainable Development (now Bureau of Planning and Sustainability) to develop a plan that would achieve, among other things, increasing recovery of all waste with a target of 75 percent by the year 2015.

2007

Portland City Council and the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners adopts resolutions directing staff to design a strategy to reduce local carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050. This results in the 2009 Climate Action Plan.The Portland Recycles! Plan recommends increasing the recycling requirement for C&D materials from 50 percent to 75 percent.

2008

Mandatory 75 percent recycling rate is adopted for C&D materials.

2009

Metro makes changes in the processing and disposal of mixed dry waste, primarily construction and demolition debris. The Enhanced Dry Waste Recovery Program (EDWRP) requires that all mixed dry waste generated in the metro region is delivered to a material recovery facility, ensuring that recyclable materials such as wood, cardboard and metal are first removed from mixed loads before disposal.

The Climate Action Plan is released, establishing a set of objectives to achieve an interim goal of a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. The Plan calls for technical assistance to contractors, and construction firms to meet Portland’s C&D recycling requirement of 75 percent, giving priority to salvage and reuse activities.

The City of Portland updates its Green Building Policy for City-owned facilities, requiring recycling of at least 85 percent of all construction, remodeling and demolition waste for new construction and major renovations.

2011

The City’s new online resource for C&D material management is launched at www.RecyclingNutsandBolts.com. City staff will spend more time in the field ensuring that requirements are being met and answering any contractors questions.

Creating a High Performance Workplace: Portland’s Green Tenant Improvement Guide

An all-in-one resource to help both newcomers and savvy project managers implement a green tenant improvement project from start to finish.

Portland Metro Green Building Hotline

Provides comprehensive green building resources and technical info for Metro region residents, designers/contractors/real estate professionals, businesses, K-12 schools, non-profits and faith-based organizations.

Portland Recycles! Plan

In a resolution adopted in June 2006, Portland City Council directed the Office of Sustainable Development to conduct a public process and develop a plan that would achieve certain solid waste management goals over the next 10 years. Read more about these goals and the strategies to achieve them here.

Metro Construction Salvage and Recycling

Metro’s toolkit offers practical tools to help contractors, architects and developers save money, earn “green” building credits and keep building materials out of the landfill.

Oregon DEQ Green Building

DEQ completed a study evaluating the environmental benefits of a number of residential building and design practices that are intended to prevent solid waste by either using less material or reusing materials over the life of a home.  The project identifies which practices have the biggest environmental benefit over the life of a residential home. 

Builder Connect

Provides free online resources for residential builders to find what they need to build green

U.S. Green Building Council LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), is an internationally-recognized green building certification system. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in March 2000, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

Cascadia Green Building Council

Cascadia Green Building Council is one of three original chapters of the U.S. Green Building Council and, as a chapter of the Canada Green Building Council as well, is the only international chapter in North America.

The Architectural Heritage Center 

A non-profit resource nexus for historic preservation owned and operated by the Bosco-Milligan Foundation.

Universal Design 

A design approach that seeks to create environments, objects, and systems that can be used by as many people as possible. To this end, Universal Design is the process of embedding choice for all people in the things we design.

Deconstruction and Salvage Contractors

Find deconstruction and salvage contractors using a list Metro has compiled of businesses offering these services.

Reuse retail facilities

Consolidated list of local resources for salvaged and reclaimed building materials.

Search for or post/list salvage building materials at these online sites

Salvage and reclaimed building materials (buy, sell, trade, and donate):

• BoneyardNW is an online marketplace for used commercial construction material.

• NW Materialsmart is an online resource that facilitates the exchange of surplus industrial material.

• Craigslist provides local classifieds including building materials.

• Freecycle is a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.

Adjust roof pitch

Making a slight change to the pitch of a roof can get your roof plane on a two-foot module which will minimize sheeting and framing waste.

Deeper eaves

Deeper eaves or overhangs protect siding and windows from the elements, meaning they will need repair and replacement less often. Deeper eaves may also keep your building cooler in summer by blocking the sun's rays from penetrating windows and exterior walls.

Dematerialization and design for simplicity

The less material you have in a structure, the less opportunity for waste. Consider open-frame ceilings, shelves without cabinet doors, finished floor as subfloor/decking.

Design for adaptability

Think about how a building will evolve over time. How can it be remodeled or reconfigured with minimal impact to elements such as flooring and utilities? Design multi-use spaces. Consider a utility chase to gang utilities for easy replacement in the future with minimal disruption to interior spaces.

Design for aging-in-place

Designing a house with universal design principles (accessible to both people with and without disabilities), allows occupants to remain in a house without having to make major modifications to the structure when occupant needs or abilities change.

Design for Disassembly (DfD)

Minimizing the use of adhesives, and maximizing the use of mechanical fasteners such as screws or bolts makes materials more easily removed in the future and maximizes potential for reuse. Choose materials that are reusable or recyclable.

Designing on two-foot and four-foot increments

Lumber and sheet materials are typically milled in two-foot increments. Designing your building using this same module will maximize the use of materials and minimize waste.

Detailed framing layout and cut list

Develop detailed framing layouts/plans and generate detailed framing cut lists to avoid waste when ordering lumber.

Space-efficient design

Building smaller, space-efficient houses is most likely the best waste reduction strategy for residential structures when viewed through a lifecycle lens. See a recent DEQ report on a lifecycle approach to prioritizing methods of preventing waste from the residential construction sector.

Specify durable materials

Cheap materials are often cheap for a reason. Replacing building components (e.g., countertops, cabinetry, siding, fixtures, etc.) more often as a result of poor craftsmanship or material quality is a waste of time, money and materials.

Ventilation

Proper ventilation of a structure prevents the growth of mold. Preventing mold growth means you don’t have to replace material after mold has taken over.

Advanced Framing

The older industry standard for wall assembly includes a two-by-four (2x4) stud frame at 16-inch centers with double top plates, three stud corners, jack studs, cripples and double headers. That is currently being replaced by a two-by-six (2x6) stud frame at 24-inch centers with single top plates, two stud corners (see Drywall Clips below), no jack studs, no cripples and single headers (and in many cases no headers at all). Advanced framing means less lumber (5-10 percent less), quicker framing (30 percent fewer pieces), and deeper cavities for insulation.

You can also download a detailed brochure on advanced framing techniques at the U.S. DOE EnergyStar website.

Drywall Clips

Often times a stud or wood nailer is added to the corner of a wall or ceiling assembly for the sole purpose of attaching drywall. Consider eliminating this lumber and use drywall clips instead. Eliminating lumber saves money on materials and can mean extra insulation in your walls.

Measure twice, cut once

Being resource conscious can make you a television star. The result of Master Carpenter Norm Abrams' motto helped land him his job as host of This Old House when creator Russell Morash was impressed by Norm's work during a barn building project (he had the smallest scrap pile Russ had ever seen). Source: This Old House

Mill felled trees into lumber*

When clearing a site for building, consider using the trees for more than firewood. A portable saw mill can pull up to your site and make quick work of turning logs into lumber. Slabs, 2x material, stair treads... endless possibilities. Consult with your arborist and miller for best results.

On-site application

Grinding land-clearing debris and applying it to the site as plant mulch is a great way to keep materials on site and save hauling and disposal/recycling costs. Concrete driveways or walkways that are to be removed can also be ground up and applied to a site as base material for new flat work. Avoid application of materials containing hazardous substances such as lead or asbestos.

Pour slab after tenant is signed (commercial)

Concrete floors in ground floor tenant spaces (especially those designed for restaurants) in new buildings can be left unpoured until a tenant is signed. This prevents existing concrete floors from being saw cut and removed for routing of plumbing and other utilities.

Proper flashing and rainscreening

Keeping water out of your siding and walls will prolong its life and reduce maintenance. Proper flashing helps shed water away from your siding, trim and windows and providing a rainscreen (3/8" or greater gap) behind your siding will help water that does get behind the siding escape.

Reduce packaging

Request reduced packaging from vendors. An example would be asking a supplier to provide bath fixtures on a pallet without cardboard and plastic wrap.

*Structural materials must be graded/stamped

Locating recycling containers in the public right-of-way (on the street or sidewalk) requires a permit from the Bureau of Transportation.

• An application must be filled out and submitted.

• The permit takes 3-5 days to process once application is received.

• Cost is based on location and duration

Visit the Portland Bureau of Transportation for more information.

Phone: 503-823-7365

• Experience in waste prevention and recycling can be an essential marketing tool to the growing number of potential clients interested in participating in LEED and other green building programs.

Cost Savings for Builders

• Donating materials for reuse often does not cost a contractor anything and recycling fees are generally lower than disposal fees. 

• Donating materials to nonprofits that specialize in salvaged items may result in tax deductions.

• Reusing materials on site can have benefits that offset possible associated costs (i.e., de-nailing, grinding, etc.), when compared to otherwise disposing of the waste material and purchasing new material.

• Some waste materials have well-developed markets for cardboard, metal, reusable lumber and architectural salvage. As a result, processors may pay for these materials.

Creating Jobs in our Region

According to the Portland Recycles! Plan

• Recycling provides a large number of jobs that generally pay above the national average wage. 

• Sending 10,000 tons of waste to the landfill supports six jobs, while recycling the same amount supports 36 jobs.

• New business and product opportunities associated with recycled materials add to the growth of the sustainable industries sector of our local economy.

• Keeping waste material out of the landfill reduces greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

• Diverting materials from the landfill puts less pressure on the need to extract and process raw materials for building or other uses, thereby saving energy and reducing carbon emissions.

• Processing waste material into new products (i.e., recycling) uses significantly less energy than processing raw materials into new products.

Preserving Embodied Energy

• Reusing buildings or materials helps preserve embodied energy — the energy associated with the materials of a building throughout its life — this includes energy consumed to extract raw materials; process the materials; transport the materials to a job site; and ultimately dispose of the materials.