Construction waste contributes significantly to the total waste stream of the US. Do you know that close to 90% of all construction waste sent to landfills has the possibility of being recycled or re-sold? Making the effort to Recycle and re-using construction waste helps to preserve our valuable natural resources and saves both consumers and businesses money. Some of the few construction items with the potential for recycling value include plastic, wood, paint, carpet, wallboard, and metal.

If you’re in construction, building, or demolition, there are a few ways to increase recycling:

1. Collect All Materials – In this method, all materials for recycling are combined together and transported to a facility or transfer station which arranges the sorting and recycling process.
2. Separation of Materials – In this method, construction materials ear-marked for recycling are sorted at the work site  (such as metal, wood, and concrete) and then transported to facilities.
3. On-Site Processing  – In this method, materials identified for recycling are processed on site and made ready for reuse. This can be the most cost-effective strategy if you generate considerable amounts of a particular recyclable material.

The cost incentives that result from construction recycling include: less disposal and transportation costs, decreased need for new materials, and reduced labor costs.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Making a plan to effectively recycle construction waste helps to save your business money while keeping recyclable materials out of our landfills.