5 common recyclable materials for greener building
The U.S. produced an estimated 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris in 2018, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's most recent estimates. Nearly 25% of that debris ended up in landfills; what remained found new life.
Many building components can be recycled and turned into new products. In 2018, over 27% of wood construction debris was diverted from landfills to become engineered wood products, compost, mulch, and fuel. Over 95% of concrete was turned into other materials like aggregate, and almost 77% of metal debris was diverted from landfills.
Reusing materials also stems the flow to landfills. Demolitions are the biggest culprit in waste, accounting for more than 90% of all construction debris, according to the EPA. Deconstruction is one way to divert this debris from landfills. Rather than demolish an existing structure, architectural salvagers carefully remove items that can be reused, such as doors, hardware, cabinets, sinks, tubs, and even old-growth wood. Architectural salvage shops and entities like Habitat for Humanity's ReStore resell the reclaimed items to those looking for historically accurate building materials for historical renovation or those who want to take an economical approach to home improvement projects.
Reducing the amount of construction debris doesn't just help the environment; it lowers construction costs. When builders deconstruct homes rather than demo them, they save money on disposal fees. If they reuse materials in a project, that can also save money in the construction budget.
Machinery Partner researched common recyclable materials that contractors and home renovators can seek out on their next projects or ensure are repurposed during their next demolitions.
