a pile of rubble with houses in the background

Demolition projects routinely result in large amounts of waste products as foundations are pulled up and walls are torn down. These waste materials are known as construction and demolition (C&D) debris. C&D materials are often heavy and bulky, which means that the process of removing and disposing of them properly can be both expensive and labor-intensive.

Figuring out how to dispose of demolition waste in the most efficient way possible, while complying with all relevant laws and regulations, is an essential part of any renovation project. Navigating this waste management task properly enables you to save money and reduce the burden of construction debris on the environment.

Types of C&D Materials

There are many kinds of C&D materials, just as there are many types of materials that go into constructing buildings or civil engineering projects. Common C&D materials include the following:

  • Wood
  • Concrete
  • Asphalt
  • Metal (e.g., steel and copper)
  • Bricks
  • Trees
  • Plastic
  • Glass
  • Rock

All this material must be dealt with as part of the task of clearing away a demolition site.

Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Waste

The primary way to classify C&D waste is by dividing it into hazardous and non-hazardous types. This is important because, legally, hazardous waste cannot be simply taken to a recycling facility or treated with the same procedures that would be acceptable with non-hazardous waste.

Common types of hazardous waste include lead, silica, asbestos, and mercury. Any materials that contain substances of this nature (e.g., fluorescent bulbs, smoke detectors) should be considered hazardous. Check the EPA website for a longer list of harmful construction materials.

The exact procedure for disposing of hazardous construction waste varies according to the laws of the area where the project was carried out. In general, disposing of hazardous waste should be left to companies with specific experience in handling these materials.

Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling

When it comes to demolition projects, the best strategy is to figure out how to minimize the amount of solid waste material that needs to be taken to a landfill site. Aside from being merely wasteful, putting C&D debris in a landfill burdens the environment and—depending on the type of material—can violate recycling laws.

In the construction industry, it is customary to speak of the need to “reduce, reuse, and recycle.” This refers to three distinct activities involved in construction debris disposal.

Reduce

Attempting to reduce the amount of waste material in construction projects can save money and reduce negative environmental impacts. This is often referred to as “source reduction,” and it is mainly associated with the design phase of construction—that is, calculating how to use as little material as possible when building structures. In the demolition phase, it takes the form of deconstruction, which is the activity of carefully taking apart a site so at least some of the material can be reused.

Deconstruction is more time-consuming than a standard demolition, but it can save money in the long run. Buildings that are best suited for deconstruction are those that are in structurally good condition, preferably with wood frames. Buildings of this type can sometimes be completely deconstructed so that virtually all of their materials are reusable.

Reuse

Reusing material collected from demolished buildings is the second step of the process. Not all demolition materials can be reused, but quite a few can be. Reusable materials include:

  • Bricks
  • Doors
  • Cabinets
  • Sinks
  • Windows
  • Appliances
  • 2×4 lumber
  • Flooring

If carefully removed from the site, these materials can be easily used in a new construction project.

In addition, concrete waste from demolition sites can be reused by transforming it into aggregate for base materials. This is where a portable rock crusher comes in handy.

Recycle

What happens to demolition waste when there is no immediate use for it? In many cases, it can be recycled. Wood and metal are among the most commonly recycled materials, as they can be turned into a wide variety of products. Be sure to work with reuse centers that are compliant with all applicable laws for recycling of C&D.

It is only when none of the above options is practical that you should resort to hiring a dumpster rental to transport waste materials to a landfill.

Senya Tech’s MICRO rock crushers and conveyors give construction companies the kinds of portable, flexible tools they need to turn common demolition waste products into reusable material. Please visit our website for more information about our products.