By next year, construction waste is expected to reach 2.2 billion tons across the world – an overwhelming amount of materials that could have been reused or recycled. Taking into account the state of our ecology right now, managing waste left over from building activities is crucial. Otherwise, building projects will harm the planet to the point of no return.
Let’s understand what construction waste is and how to deal with leftover materials effectively.
Where Construction Waste Comes From
Construction and demolition, or C&D waste, are all the materials left over after construction, demolition, and renovation. Road and bridge debris are also classified as C&D waste. A variety of materials are dumped in landfills, such as:
- wood;
- concrete;
- metal;
- plastic;
- timber;
- paper.
Thankfully, you can change the situation with proper rules established at your construction site. When you hire contractors from websites like area.us for your project, train them to stick to certain sustainable practices.
Next, we will learn what to do with different C&D waste.
C&D Waste and How to Recycle It
Brick
Most brick waste is left over after the demolition process. Some of it is not clean, but rather a mix of brick, plaster, and mortar. Right now, it is possible to reuse old brick in new projects or recycle it. In a recycling process, it is crushed and utilized as filler later on.
Concrete
Just like brick, concrete is mostly generated by demolition. Rarely, it can be a side effect of sample testing. Concrete is also crushed up and used in future construction processes. Crushed concrete is a great aggregate in new concrete. Additionally, it is adopted in road-based construction.
Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals
If your project involves metals, let the contractors you employ from services like Area that they should never dump it in a landfill. Ferrous metal waste is highly profitable. Moreover, it can be recycled effectively more than once. Non-ferrous metal is also commonly used during construction. This C&D waste is recyclable, too.
Masonry
Similarly to brick and concrete, most masonry waste comes from building demolition. It can be crushed and used as aggregate during thermal isolation or in clay bricks.
Paper and Cardboard
Surprisingly, paper is one of the most wasteful during construction. It is estimated to take around one-third of all waste volume. Like any other paper or cardboard, it can be recycled into new paper.
Plastic
While plastic is great for recycling, it takes a few more steps to prepare it after construction or demolition. It should be clear from any other materials, separated into different plastic types, and wiped clean. Recycled plastic is made into flooring, roofing, cable ducting, prefabricated building panels, and so on.
Timber
Timber is also one of the most common materials to be left over from construction and demolition. It does not have to be recycled. Instead, it can be remade, cleaned, and used in other projects right away.
Recycling is Important
As we step into the greener future, we should realize that recycling is essential on every construction site. Not only does it save the planet, but it also reduces the cost of the next projects and the demand for new resources.