Updated November 3, 2021
Tearing down existing buildings and disposing of the debris is not exactly resource-efficient.
In 2019, more than 600 million tons of construction and demolition (C&D) debris were generated in the U.S. alone, and more than 90% of that total was a result of demolition.
C&D debris has a negative impact on our environment when dropped at a landfill, so it's important to find alternative solutions.
Jump to:
- Benefits of Reducing the Amount of C&D Debris You Send to Landfills
- Benefits of Deconstruction
- Common Recyclable and Reusable Materials
- How to Recycle C&D Debris
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Benefits of Reducing the Amount of C&D Debris You Send to Landfills
- Reduces overall project expenses by minimizing purchase/disposal costs.
- Offsets the environmental effects of producing new materials.
- Conserves landfill space, requiring fewer disposal facilities, and reducing the associated impacts on the environment.
- Creates employment opportunities and provides increased business opportunities in your local community.
To salvage as many reusable materials as possible, opt for deconstruction rather than demolition.
Salvaging C&D materials that are still valuable is the most effective way to save money and protect our planet and its natural resources.
Deconstruction involves the careful disassembling of structures in order to recover any reusable or recyclable materials.
Benefits of Deconstruction
- Diverts demolition debris from the landfill
- Maximizes the amount of materials recovered
- Conserves limited natural resources
- Provides employment opportunities and more job training
Common Recyclable & Reusable Materials
Some of the most commonly recycled and reused C&D materials include:
- Wood — Cutoffs can be used for lintels and blocking rather than cutting fresh lumber, scraps can be recycled into products like mulch or furniture.
- Concrete, asphalt, brick, and masonry — These materials can be recycled into aggregate or new concrete or asphalt products.
- Doors, appliances, fixtures, and hardware — These items are easy to remove and typically last a long time, making them great for repurposing in other projects or builds.
- Metals — Copper, brass, aluminum, and steel are all valuable metals you can recycle.
- Insulation — Excess exterior isulation can be used in interior walls to reduce noise.
- Packaging materials — These items can be returned to suppliers for reuse, and many are recyclable, like corrugate cardboard.
How to Recycle C&D Debris
Not only is recycling C&D debris easy, with thousands of facilities across the country, but it's less expensive, too.
There's also more than one way to recycle debris...
On-Site Processing
With on-site processing, recyclable materials are processed at the site they are recovered from and made ready for reuse there.
Source Separation
This involves separating recyclable materials from other materials at the job site and then sending it to the nearest facility to be recycled.
Mixed Material Collection
This involves transporting multiple types of materials from the job site to a waste facility where they are then sorted and sent to a recycling facility.
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