More than 96% of all demolished materials from an old apartment building in Suonenjoki were recycled

An apartment building completed in the 60s was demolished in Tervalanranta, Suonenjoki, without any surprises encountered on the way. The building was demolished successfully according to schedule without disturbing the neighbours, and the recycling rate increased to over 96%. A suitable reuse site nearby was even found for the demolished concrete.

Kiinteistö Oy Suonenjoen Vuokratalot, a rental housing company in North Savo in the small town of Tervalanranta that is well-known for its strawberries, decided to demolish the 19-apartment building, originally completed in 1967, due to the decreasing rental rate. Sweco’s commission included the demolition planning as well as the project management of the demolition work and construction.

“Among other things, we were in charge of the contract work’s cost calculations, drafting of a contract and the occupational safety coordination,” says Teemu Heiskanen, Sweco’s project manager. He praises Purkupiha, the demolition contractor, as having first-class occupational safety. “The contractor’s work plans were also sufficiently detailed and practical.”

Purkupiha and Sweco already have several joint demolition sites behind them. “It is always easy for me to launch projects with Sweco because all the necessary initial information is available,” says Jani Perälä, Purkupiha’s supervisor. Work progresses professionally and smoothly. “The main thing that comes to mind when thinking about the Tervalanranta site is the great feeling at the site!”

Demolished concrete reused close by

The Tervalanranta site was a typical demolition site of its era for both the demolition planner and the contractor. However, the reuse and recycling rate of the site exceeded even the calculated forecast, to around 96.4%.

“For example, 2,900 tonnes of concrete were recycled”, Heiskanen says. Only construction components containing detrimental material – such as 21 tonnes of asbestos – remained as waste that was unsuitable for recycling. The quantity of detrimental material was typical of a residential apartment building of this era.

Purkupiha sorted the different materials at the worksite, and the only thing requiring special attention was the underground heat distribution centre, which had some oil-soaked concrete. “However, we already knew this when we were calculating the contract work, so we could easily sort this concrete separately,” Perälä says. A recycling site with an environmental permit was found for the clean demolished concrete, which was used for the noise barriers of a nearby racing track. “We were able to carry out the demolition work efficiently, both in terms of costs and the environment.”

ARA subsidy covered part of the housing company’s demolition costs

Authority cooperation in the project included the application for a demolition subsidy for ARA houses. According to Heiskanen, the site met the application criteria well, as ARA only finances demolition costs in sites where keeping the building in use is not economically reasonable. The amount of the grant in 2020–2022 covered up to 90% of the costs with a special permit.

“The application procedure included, among other things, an analysis of the most cost efficient demolition method and the effects of the demolition on the owner’s financial situation, as well as an assessment of the demolition costs and the possibilities for recycling the demolition waste.”

The demolition job was completed on time by the end of 2021, and it lasted about three months. According to Perälä, there was plenty of space for manoeuvring on the property, and the demolition of heavy structures was completed quickly with just one demolition machine. In terms of the schedule and costs, the key was that the demolition of asbestos and detrimental material during the interior demolition passed without any surprises or extra work. “This is a sign that Sweco’s asbestos and detrimental material review was conducted with great care.”

Residents of nearby buildings did not have any complaints about the demolition project. “It seems like the work did not cause them any disruptions,” Heiskanen says. The landscaped plot is now a recreational area for the residents of the area and city, near Suonenjoki River flowing through the city.