As the global population continues to rise, the construction and demolition (C&D) sector faces increasing demand for its services. This rapid growth is evidenced by the constant addition of new homes, businesses, and infrastructure around the world. However, this expansion inevitably leads to a significant amount of waste—C&D waste alone contributes to 40% of the world’s annual solid waste, which equates to about 100 million tons in the United States.
Despite the inevitability of some waste, there are effective strategies to minimize the massive amounts produced. This overview will highlight various methods that C&D companies, regardless of size, can implement to reduce waste and mitigate environmental damage.
To address waste reduction, it’s essential to first understand its root causes. One major factor is the lack of waste management planning during the design stage, which is responsible for up to 33% of construction waste, according to a study by environmental engineers. Additional causes include design modifications, improper handling and storage of materials, poor site management, inefficient material processing, and insufficient information on local recycling and disposal regulations.
Given these factors and the inherent nature of construction and demolition, waste accumulation is a major challenge. However, several strategies can help mitigate this issue. At the start of any project, it’s crucial to develop a comprehensive recycling and waste management plan tailored to the materials, project size, and local disposal options. This plan might involve specialized waste collection services, roll-off dumpsters designed for C&D debris, or the use of construction-grade compactors.
Another effective approach is to prefer deconstruction over traditional demolition. Deconstruction allows for the careful removal and reuse of materials, reducing overall waste and minimizing the environmental impact compared to standard demolition practices, which often produce harmful dust and heavy metals.
These strategies are just the beginning. For more detailed information on waste reduction, please refer to the accompanying resource.
Reducing Waste At A Job Site was provided by Sourgum Waste