Being Green With Construction Debris
Contractors, do you know how much waste and debris is produced on your construction sites? Do you know how much of that construction waste could be recycled and reused? Studies show that in a typical construction site, almost 75% of construction debris is recyclable.
How much of that material are you sending to a landfill? Junk360 is here to show you how easy it is to be green with construction debris!
What Construction Debris Is Recyclable?
Looking at the breakdown of construction debris, it’s shocking how much is actually recyclable (or reusable) material. This includes:
- Lumber
- Concrete
- Tile
- Carpet
- Metals
- Insulation
- Plastic
- Rigid Plastics
- Rock
- Masonry
- Porcelain
According to the EPA, construction accounts for almost 170 million tons of debris each year – and that’s just in the United States! Almost 75% of that debris is wasted by going into a landfill when it can easily be recycled.
Why Should You Recycle Construction Debris?
Reducing construction debris can save you money, conserve resources and energy, and reduce water, air, and soil pollution. However, there are a few huge benefits for contractors who go green with construction debris. These include:
- Reducing the costs of removing and hauling away construction site waste
- Contributing to the production of recycled aggregate products
- Eliminating the high costs of landfill fees
- Achieving valuable points towards a LEED® certification
- Remaining in compliance with your project plan and city ordinances
By implementing eco-friendly construction debris removal, contractors will not only minimize their carbon footprint and help keep waste out of the landfill, but they’ll also help their business!
How to Recycle Construction Debris
Deconstruction is an effective, environmentally-friendly way to remove construction debris. This process involves dismantling pieces of a home or commercial building before the demolition phase begins.
Since demolition produces an estimated 125 million tons of debris in the United States each year, deconstruction is an important step of going green with your construction debris.
The process is easy! Before demolition, simply dismantle reusable items. This includes:
- Flooring
- Doors
- Windows
- Cabinets
- Roofing
- Molding
- Countertops
- Ceiling tile
- Blinds
- Shades
- Plumbing fixtures
- Light fixtures
- Joint fixtures
