Local company provides sustainable waste diversion in federal courthouse building renovation

Oct 15, 2024
| Posted in
Environment
View of the federal courthouse renovation project from Heart of America pedestrian bridge

Relying on partnerships and funding from MARC’s Solid Waste Management District, Summit Transfer has expanded its commitment to recycling and responsible waste management.

Summit Transfer is making significant strides in sustainable waste diversion through its work on the Charles E. Whittaker U.S. Courthouse building renovation. The company has spearheaded the project's federally mandated aim to divert at least 50% of the waste created from the demolition. 

The federal courthouse is undergoing a complete window replacement and related roof repairs. The window project includes the installation of low embodied carbon materials that will increase the efficiency and overall performance of the building.  

Summit Transfer, along with sister company KC Dumpster and other environmentally-conscious materials haulers and transfer stations, receives occasional funding from the MARC Solid Waste Management District through annual grants. 

Any municipality, county, public institution, nonprofit organization, private business or individual currently operating in the MARC solid waste district is eligible to apply for these grants each year, as long as they are located within the district boundaries of Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, and Ray counties. In 2024, the MARC SWMD approved nearly $800,000 in grant funding, supplementing local efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle on a regional scale.

Salvaged materials at Summit Transfer station in Lee's Summit, MO
Salvaged metal awaiting its second life at Summit Transfer in Lee's Summit, Missouri.

The Breakdown

As of September, the courthouse renovation has successfully repurposed 111.91 tons of glass and metal from the windows alone. The project, happening in phases over the past several months, is visible when coming south on the Heart of America Bridge.

Sara Taylor, sustainability coordinator for Summit Transfer and KC Dumpster, shared insights into the project's achievements in waste diversion. Her husband Rody started the operation as Taylor Construction Services in 2006, and the business evolved from roll-off construction dumpster service. The company's commitment to recycling and responsible waste management led to memberships and referrals from industry groups like the U.S. Green Building Council, as well as landing contracts for jobs where waste diversion is a major priority.

"From April to September 2024, our companies managed a total of 530.77 tons of material from the courthouse renovation," said Taylor.

Of that tonnage, Summit Transfer has diverted:

  • 92.58 tons of glass.
  • 250.82 tons of metal.
  • 59.9 tons of wood.
  • 11.27 tons of cardboard.

Only 116.16 tons of waste has been sent to construction and demolition landfills.

"When the federal government decided to renovate the courthouse in downtown Kansas City, they created a plan with the expectation of 50% diversion of waste materials. I'm pleased to report that we surpassed that with a 78% diversion rate."

Sara Taylor, Sustainability coordinator for Summit Transfer and KC Dumpster

Diverted materials have made their way to composting operations like Missouri Organic Recycling, metal scrappers, and Ripple Glass, which transforms crushed glass into fiberglass building materials for Owens Corning and other building suppliers. Ripple Glass was formed to fill in the curbside glass recycling gap in the Kansas City area in 2009. Boulevard Brewing was a key founding partner, helping their glass bottle-based business model become closer to zero-landfill. Ripple Glass also received Solid Waste Management District grant funding in the past. 

In 2023 Ripple Glass saved 43,500 tons of glass from the landfill, with every ton resulting in 1,300 pounds of sand, 410 pounds of soda ash, 380 pounds of limestone and 150 pounds of feldspar less that had to be mined for the creation of brand new glass or fiberglass. More statistics can be found here.

Crushed glass from federal courthouse window renovations
Crushed glass from old federal courthouse windows, on the way to Ripple Glass.

Key Partnerships

Taylor highlighted the importance of partnerships in achieving these lofty diversion goals, particularly with MARC and Ripple Glass.  "By sending materials to us, contractors know they can mix it all in one dumpster, and it will be separated and sent to various end-market users." This efficiency is pivotal in advancing recycling efforts in Missouri and Kansas, where Summit Transfer remains the only facility dedicated to separating and diverting construction waste.

Despite the successes, Taylor acknowledged challenges remain in finding end markets for various materials. 

"Unfortunately, it's cheaper to send materials to the landfill here in the Midwest, so it has to be a priority for the client and contractor," Taylor noted. 

Without grant support, end-market providers like Ripple Glass cannot expand to take on large amounts of material. 

For their part, Summit Transfer is using their business model to encourage the growth of this market. "We are working hard to expand these end markets for increased diversion in the region, but it takes time," Taylor said. "This is where our partnership with MARC is so important."

"The MARC SWMD is proud of our investments in our grant partners," says Dianna Bryant, Solid Waste Management District programs director. "Summit Transfer, Ripple Glass and Missouri Organic Recycling have produced synergies that have greatly expanded opportunities for landfill waste diversion for large construction and commercial projects like this. And our aim is to continue the expansion of these efforts."

Learn more about the MARC Solid Waste Management District grant program
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