Pittsburgh-based Volpatt Construction, Partners Diverted More Than 275 Tons Of Waste From Landfills As Part Of 'Dumpster Last' Philosophy

On August 5, Volpatt Construction, a general contractor and construction management firm serving the Western PA Tri-State area, announced that since January of 2024 and with the help of local partners, the company has diverted more than 275 tons of waste from landfills. 

That amount is equivalent to 63% of all waste collected across multiple job sites. 

The data is being released to help support the company’s “Dumpster Last” philosophy and its focus on greener building practices. 

“As an industry, we need to think more creatively about how we divert waste from the landfill. While recycling remains important, other creative methods should be considered as well,” said Michael Volpatt, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Volpatt Construction. “Our efforts would not be possible without multiple partners across the region that have helped us think more creatively and build a toolbox of best practices that we can use on projects moving forward.”

Best practices not only include diverting waste from landfills, it also takes other forms including--

-- Focusing on material reuse in the concept/design phase of a project;

-- Working with salvage companies to collect hard goods for resale or repurpose; and 

-- Donating or finding homes within and outside an organization for furniture, fixtures, and other goods so that they can be reused/recycled

As one example, Michael Volpatt described how they carefully removed fabric from the seats in Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh that the company demoed. 

The fabric was given to a couture fashion designer Brian David who used it to make a dress for a fashion show called Ecolution by The Green Voice of Pittsburgh.

Marc Mondor, AIA, Principal of evolveEA, a regional sustainability consulting and design firm, states, "The importance of construction waste diversion away from landfills can't be overstated.  The environmental benefits and opportunities for local jobs and the  circular economy are tremendous. We commend Volpatt for their proactive approach and eagerness to address this issue."

Volpatt’s partners in waste diversion include Michael Brothers, Boyd Roll Off, Construction Junction, Doors Unhinged, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and others. 

The team is working on building out a larger list of partners that will help the company and the industry adopt greener building initiatives.

Volpatt Construction is a family-owned  and operated commercial and industrial construction company serving Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. 

From their very first project at the University of Pittsburgh in 1991, to over 900 commercial, industrial and institutional projects, Volpatt Construct has successfully positioned itself as one of the most respected building contractors in the Tri-State Area. 

With a focus on high-quality, hands-on service, competitive pricing and timely project completion, Volpatt Construction has built a long list of repeat clients, partnering with the finest businesses and institutions in the region.

[Posted: August 5, 2024]  PA Environment Digest