Demolition Materials w/Asbestos from Medford Schools

The Incident

In November of 2006, voters in the Medford School District approved a $189 million school bond to renovate 18 schools and build a new high school. As many of the schools were built decades earlier (some dating back to the 1910s), they contained asbestos that needed to be properly dealt with during demolition and removal.

The Response

Dry Creek Landfill was selected as the disposal site, as it is permitted to accept and handle materials with asbestos. Renovations began in 2007 with the goal of removing all materials with asbestos during the summer break. To accommodate such a large abatement project in such a short time frame, Dry Creek Landfill expanded its operational hours for disposal of asbestos. The projects were completed before the schools reopened in the fall, and classes were able to resume as scheduled.

Key Stats

• School bond measures created need to remodel and demolish several schools — many with asbestos
• Dry Creek Landfill was selected as the disposal site
• Tight timeframe — summer, when school was out — meant expanding hours for disposal of asbestos at Dry Creek Landfill
• Job was completed on time