Construction and demolition waste, or C&D waste, is the term used to describe the debris generated by all kinds of construction and demolition projects. As C&D materials are produced by undertakings ranging between the construction of private homes and the deconstruction of international airports, they represent an enormous source of waste.
Reusing and recycling C&D materials is important for a number of reasons. In general terms, doing so is an excellent example of the benefits of circular economy in action, as it helps to divert significant levels of waste away from landfill, and in doing so mitigates the need to extract new raw materials from the earth. Both of these elements help to reduce environmental degradation for products at both start-of-life and end-of-life.
Reusing and recycling C&D materials can also reduce financial costs, from the expenses associated with raw material extraction, processing, and transportation to the buying of new goods and their eventual disposal. Moreover, establishing strong C&D reuse and recycling systems can support localities by producing plenty of jobs and by helping to maintain the architectural style of an area through the reintegration of locally sourced materials.
What’s more, the value of a more robust and flexible reuse and recycling program for C&D materials is likely to grow as urbanization in the US continues to accelerate and the need for cycling back useful materials into the economy becomes apparent. Here then, we examine some of the challenges facing the C&D recycling industry and how greater diversion and recycling might be achieved.
Fortunately, the proper recycling of C&D is possible with good organization and planning. For example, established fixtures such as doors, windows and appliances can be easily extracted and removed to a new construction site. Pre-cut wood can be used for lintels and other smaller wooden features, which circumnavigates the need to cut these features from whole pieces of timber.
Bricks and concrete can be reused in a range of forms to serve various functions, from providing aggregate for the construction of new concrete, to acting as the foundation for driveways. Paint can be remixed and reused as a primer coat, and packaging materials can often be returned to the suppliers who delivered them, allowing these materials to be used again.
Asphalt and concrete can be recycled on-site or at a recycling center using a crushing rig and can be used to support the construction of new roads and pavements. Porcelain can be crushed and resold to tile manufacturers, which can produce tiles made with up to 40% recycled materials. Steel can be melted and reformed without degrading, which means it can be recycled perpetually, and wood can be chipped to make particle boards, pallets, or to create mulch for the protection and improvement of soil. Even carpet and insulation can be reused to produce underlay padding and fiberglass tiles.
There is a vast array of opportunities for us to develop a circular economy using C&D materials, offering environmental, financial and economic benefits. All we need in order to access these is to implement good practices and increase how much demolition waste is typically recycled.
At Qunfeng, we offer a construction and demolition mixed waste disposal system that your C&D material is being recycled in the best way possible. Our business was established to support the development of the circular economy, and both our philosophy and operations are targeted towards making this a reality. If you are interested in our products, please contact us now!
