Yes, You Can Recycle Your Construction Debris

Construction debris is a constant byproduct of any building project. Construction and demolition waste has to be regularly cleared and removed. But it doesn't have to go to a landfill.

It is a growing and continually developing industry, yet too many contractors still fail to make full use of it's potential. It is the construction and demolition (C&D) waste industry. An increasing number of facilities and businesses are taking on the scraps and debris from construction and recycling much of this material. It is good for the planet, but it is also good for the industry.

Why Recycling Your Construction Debris Matters

The sheer volume of waste and debris produced by the construction process is staggering. 

According to a white paper produced by the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA) there was approximately 480 million tons of C&D waste produced in the U.S. back in 2012, for example. They broke that down into categories of bulk aggregate, which was mostly concrete and made up 310 million tons. In addition, it included about 70 million tons of reclaimed asphalt pavement, known as RAP.

The CDRA estimated that over 70% of this debris was recovered and given new use by the C&D recycling industry. As a result, this meant that over 4,300 acres of landfill was freed up. And that was calculated at a waste depth of 50 feet! 

In addition to avoiding more landfill usage, the practice of construction debris recycling also reduces potential greenhouse gases and saves energy.  In 2012, the CDRA estimated the amount of greenhouse gases that was prevented was like taking almost 6 million cars off the road for an entire year. Recycling this waste saved the U.S. over 85 million barrels of oil in just one year.

Small Scale Construction Matters, Too 

Wood waste is the second largest component of construction and demolition debris. It is estimate to make up anywhere between 20 to 30 percent of the building-related waste produced each year. And wood waste makes up almost10 percent of material going into our landfills annually.

The CDRA has determined that, for C&D waste adds up to an estimated 36.4 million tons each year. That breaks down to 29.7 million tons coming just from demolition work while another 6.7 million tons is generated from construction projects.

Wood and wood products, however, have quite a healthy lifespan which increases their potential for reuse. One study determined that wood products such as lumber and plywood has an average lifespan of about 75 years, while materials such as wood panel products and veneers average about 25 years.

This is great for recycling and reuse purposes, but no so great for landfill and dumping. 

Yes, You Can Outsource Your Construction Debris Removal

Even though you are a professional contractor, you might still find it challenging to get rid of the debris left over after your project is complete. Whether you are doing demolition, remodeling, or construction, there is always the time sensitive and costly process of getting rid of leftover debris. Concrete, wood, steel, tiling and drywall all can be extremely difficult to haul off of a construction site.

There is more to proper construction garbage removal than simply throwing stuff into the back of a truck. Knowing what can be disposed of legally and where constitutes a large part of what makes a professional firm the better choice. And, as already noted, simply taking everything to the local landfill – assuming there is one – is not always the most cost-effective means of disposal. Recycling and re-purposing many items and materials is a responsible approach for a business to take.

A Professional Team for Your Construction Debris Recycling

Trash hauling and site clean-up is usually considered to be “part of the job” for contractors, bit it really doesn’t have to! When you consider that every hour your crew spends picking up debris, cleaning the site, and hauling and disposing of the material, is an hour NOT spent generating revenue on a project. And the bigger the job, the more the opportunity costs add up.

Add to that the possible costs of hazardous material disposal and even required training for your employees, the benefits of outsourcing these tasks become more attractive.

Do you have a current or upcoming project that will need construction trash clean-up and removal? If so, call Junk King! Our team specializes in construction trash removal. We can be at your facility in mere minutes, so call us today! Our crew is fully insured and well-trained, so you can trust them to get rid of your unwanted items in a professional and courteous fashion.

And one of the best things about hiring Junk King is that we recycle a much of the material we pick-up. This is proof of our commitment to being an eco-friendly removal service. If you have questions about what we do or what we believe, give us a call at (707) 744-4254.