About Construction Recycling

How to Recycle and Reuse Construction Waste?

Every year the construction industry generates an enormous amount of waste. In fact, as per research, by the year 2025, the construction waste generated across the globe will reach an alarming 2.2 Billion tons. Evidently, the construction industry needs to take its construction recycling a bit more seriously. Even small steps by countries from around the world can make a significant impact in improving the existing condition.

To tackle waste management and construction recycling challenges, managers across the globe are building effective strategies to reduce, reuse, recycle, and dispose of construction waste. With ever pilling landfills and increasing building material costs, an effective waste management plan can help companies save money and contribute to their corporate social responsibilities.

1. Control Wastage

Planning ahead will help the construction team make fewer mistakes. Contractors should get a comprehensive plan from the designer prior to starting the construction services. It is recommended to plan ceiling heights and roofs over two-foot increments. Same goes for wiring, ducting, piping, and siding. Setting standard lengths allow contractors to reduce debris.

Moreover, using taller wall panels also helps in preventing air leakage and waste. It also eliminates the need for extra cutting and filler scraps, therefore reducing the build up of scraps on the site.

2. Choose Deconstruction over Demolition

Some construction sites allow contractors to reuse the existing space without having to complete demolition. It paves an excellent opportunity to get more out of less. Reusing the current workable material will reduce the overall costs. Construction managers can also collaborate with businesses in order to seek opportunities for exchange of waste or reusable material. Storing crushed material used in the initial phases can be used later on for other jobs. Utilising the construction resources efficiently will help in reducing the waste and aid in saving overall material cost for the project.

3. Construction Recycling

Typically, in a construction site, the waste collected at the end of the day goes directly into the dumpster. However, filtering out the trash for reusing and recycling can help in making the construction process more manageable. Workers should collect scrap items and find a way to use it somewhere in the process. And, by the end of the day, if workers are too tired to sort out the trash, then managers could hire a dedicated recycling service provider. These agencies provide recycling services that will take the rubbish and offer bins for free.

4. Liaise with Suppliers

Partnering with the right suppliers will help make more effective waste management strategies for their construction site. Managers should ensure that suppliers have take-back schemes. This will enable them to send back excess materials. Additionally, suppliers could also offer staggered deliveries, reducing the need for expensive on-site storage space.

What Material Can be Recycled and Reused on the Construction Site?

While not every construction and demolition scrap can be recycled or re-used, there are however items that can be. The following are some construction materials that can be easily recycled to reduce the overall wastage:

1. Wood

Construction work produces a large amount of wood debris; a majority of which can be used in multiple ways. Workers can re-mine the old lumber and timber in order to construct doors, panels, windows, floors, etc. Furthermore, they reuse wood to build fences and barns.

2. Copper

One of the popular metals, copper, is used in the construction site for wiring and piping purposes. Copper is a great recycling material, and when it is recycled, this metal retains its strength and durability. This is one of the reasons why recycling copper is considered a highly lucrative task.

3. Concrete

Concrete is amongst the popular recycling materials in the construction site, saving millions of dollars and saving tons of landfill space. Crushed concrete can be used to make road pavements and driveways.

4. Shingles

Roofing shingles cover a large section of construction waste. They are one of the most durable construction materials. In fact, a roofing shingles can last for 20 to 30 years. When they are taken out from the roof, shingles can be used for various pavement projects and work as an excellent patch for pavements. They can also be recycled to make new shingles.

The Bottom Line

Recycling and reusing construction waste is an effective way of saving the planet and generating profitable opportunities. Above were some of the ways that can help constructors to minimise the wastage in the construction site and optimise the efficiency of the entire construction recycling process.