Construction Waste Recycling

When it comes to construction sites and construction projects, they’re known for producing a lot of construction waste. How the construction industry disposes of construction waste seems to be a problem, as there is a lack of waste recycling for both construction and demolition waste. So, what is construction waste recycling? Construction waste recycling is the process of extracting useful materials from discarded materials that can be recycled for reuse.

Recycling saves resources, prevents pollution, and lowers the impact of construction activities on the environment.  Construction waste recycling is also an important component of sustainable development as it reduces the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of. Construction waste management is a challenging task, especially in developing countries where there are not enough facilities or trained personnel to ensure effective waste disposal.

 

Are there solutions?

The right construction waste disposal solutions during your construction projects can help reduce the amount of waste generated and help keep communities healthy by ensuring that no harmful materials enter landfills. Recycling is one way to reduce or eliminate dependence on raw materials that can be recycled and create new products with a minimal carbon footprint. Construction wastes are commonly generated during residential, commercial, and industrial projects.

A high volume of construction waste can overwhelm local depots, roads, trucks, and hauling costs. The cost to dispose of construction waste includes the fact that landfills increase over time due to increased maintenance costs, taxes, fees, and greater security requirements as regulations require more protective measures for landfill sites. In some cases, a landfill may become too full, causing damage to the site or higher maintenance costs down the road. Many cities have strict limits on how much construction waste

 

Types of construction waste

Construction waste includes these three basic types:

  • Construction and demolition waste
  • Earth-moving and excavation wastes
  • Refuse from the construction industry, such as asphalt and concrete

Nearly all of these types of construction waste can be commonly recycled.

 

What can be recycled in a construction waste recycling program?

Construction waste recycling programs can provide a solution for both the financial and environmental reasons of how to handle construction waste in a cost-effective manner. The following items can be recycled through construction waste recycling programs:

  • Used tires
  • Used paint cans
  • Used plastic bottles (Plastic films, lids, caps)
  • Used plasterboard
  • Construction debris/waste

 

Why is it necessary to recycle construction and demolition wastes?

Recycling construction and demolition wastes is a way to reduce the amount of waste generated that’s going into landfills. Construction and demolition waste primarily consist of building materials such as wood, metal, plastics, and paper. These building materials are recycled in a number of ways, including reuse, recycling, or disposal in landfill. Construction and demolition wastes that are disposed of in landfills can release harmful substances into the environment, such as methane gas, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and heavy metals. The majority of construction waste recycling is done through re-use.

 

Construction waste recycling examples

Reusing surplus timber from demolished buildings to create new beams for new buildings can be one of the best examples of how construction materials can be reused. Reusing concrete blocks by grinding them down to create cement aggregate for new buildings. Wooden pallets can be used for furniture manufacturing or to make packaging products that would otherwise require plastic or metal containers. Plastics can be recycled into more durable items such as park benches, playground equipment, planters, etc.

Metal cans from food packaging can be melted down to make new cans or recycled with other metal objects for manufacturing purposes. Construction materials that cannot be reused should go through recycling processes before disposal in a landfill by being mixed with other types of recyclable construction materials or crushed so they cannot be reused again in their original states like gravel roads and soils.

Benefits of construction waste recycling

One of the benefits of construction waste recycling is that it can prevent waste from entering landfills. When it comes to any business, no matter the industry, this is something that should be strived for. This prevents the backfill of local landfill sites and significantly decreases the amount of waste that will need to be disposed of in a landfill.

Using recycled materials is one way to reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry. Using reusable items can help reduce waste and save money for all involved. Recycling can save large amounts of energy and natural resources. Using recycled materials can also reduce the number of toxic materials that end up in the environment.

Materials can be recycled to create new products that will last longer and are durable. There are many different types of recycling programs. A company can opt to have materials recycled at the site of a project, or they can opt to have materials shipped to a recycling center. This allows for less land, air, and water impact while still creating new products with a minimal carbon footprint.

 

Steps for starting a construction waste recycling program

There are plenty of materials that are commonly recycled, but one of the best ways to ensure that your construction project and construction company can implement reducing, reusing, and recycling into the standard protocol would be to create a construction waste recycling program. Here are some steps you may want to consider for starting the construction waste recycling program:

  • Identify the materials that can be recycled
  • Identify the program’s goals and objectives
  • Set up a system of sorting construction waste at the source
  • Develop an effective collection process
  • Ensure fair market value for recyclable materials collected

 

While it may take time, this can be implemented, and it could be an excellent way to show that construction projects don’t have to leave a carbon footprint!

If you’re needing help on your construction site with reducing, reusing, and recycling, then contact us today. At J & J Franks Ltd, we’re known for being the most trusted and largest independently owned quarrying and waste management company in Surrey. Contact us today on our contact form or reach out to use for skip hire.

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