Building/ Demolition Waste
The building and demolition waste stream can be broken into three basic categories:
- Wood- makes up about 25-40 percent of B&D waste stream.
- Rubble (concrete, cinder block, stone, clay brick and soil) and asphalt- makes up about half of the B&D waste stream.
- Other materials (metals, gypsum wallboard, asphalt roofing material, plastic, paper, and glass) - make up the remainder of the waste stream.
Experts claim that 90 percent of this waste could be eliminated by reducing waste production and by recycling, depending on local market conditions for the materials.
Firstly, consider Conducting an Audit to get your facts straight.
Then:
Reduce:
- Ask the architect for building designs that use standard material sizes. This will reduce wastage from off cuts.
- Reduce the need for emergency material runs by planning ahead.
- Reduce packaging waste by consulting with suppliers to remove the packaging for re-use, before the material is delivered to the site. Use blankets and padding to protect supplies against damage on site.
- Inspect all materials on delivery and return any damaged stock to the supplier.
- Try to leave as many trees, stumps, branches and other vegetation in place on a site when clearing. This will reduce the generation of solid waste. When cut, green waste will need to be disposed of properly (see the Business Waste Stream - Green Waste section on this web site).
- Maintain separate waste streams to increase potential for reuse and recycling of materials. Don't combine hazardous waste with non-hazardous wastes, as this increases contamination rates, resulting in more waste having to be treated as hazardous.
- Select products that will produce the least amount of waste or the least amount of toxic waste - e.g. use water based paints rather than oil based or paints containing metal, as left-over paint will be easier to dispose.
- Require subcontractors to include the cost of removing their waste in their bids to give them an incentive to produce less waste.
Reuse:
- Prior to commencing a construction project, evaluate materials required and make an effort to purchase previously used material where possible.
- Crush used rubble on site and reuse as fill or for bedding on driveways and pathways, instead of purchasing new material.
- Joist off-cuts can be cut up and used as stakes for forming or for headers around openings in the floor assembly.
- Leftover rigid insulation can be used as ventilation baffles in attics or installed into house envelopes at joist header assemblies.
- Return pallets to the vendors for reuse.
- Plan to keep the salvageable materials that can't be reused on site, separate from other waste streams and then arrange for a recycling contractor to collect.
- Investigate the option of deconstruction prior to building, rather than demolition.
- Hobart City Council runs the Waste Industry Resource Exchange (WIRE) program which is a free waste resource finder service. For more information contact 62382728.
Recycle:
- Materials that are unsuitable for reuse might be suitable for recycling. Prior to disposal, sort out the recyclable materials and make arrangements for a contractor to collect. Check with local recycling contractors for details on what can be recycled and how to avoid contamination.
Make your aims as public as possible. Inform staff about your intentions and why. Offer further incentives to staff to show your appreciation for their efforts. But remember, "waste reduction is everybody's responsibility".
Sources:
- Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. A Pollution Prevention Guide for Building Construction and Demolition.
- http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/del-cnst.htm.
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