Minimizing Your Landfill Contributions After a Demolition Project

<img src="https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/DCR-ADMIN/Article_Webp/Marcan.webp" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/> Originally written by Dave Marcan of Marcan Enterprise, Inc. A vital part of any demolition project is identifying components that can be diverted from the landfill to be recycled, repurposed or deconstructed. According to the National Association of Home Builders Research Center, residential demolition accounts for more than 50 million tons of landfill debris every year. Landfills are limited resources, as is the fuel required to transport materials to them, so any materials that can be saved from a construction project and reused or recycled greatly reduce the energy and resources required to produce replacement products. If your home construction project involves demolition, it’s important to first determine if you’re a good candidate for deconstruction, a process that salvages reusable building materials so they can be used for other purposes without having to be reprocessed. Either you or a contracted salvage company can selectively remove materials such as doors, windows, architectural structures, cabinetry, sinks and bathtubs before a full demolition. Here are some other common examples of reusable building materials:  <ul> <li>Columns</li> <li>Mantles</li> <li>Lumber</li> <li>Insulation</li> <li>Moulding</li> <li>Siding</li> <li>Wainscoting</li> <li>Steel beams and studs</li> <li>Light fixtures</li> </ul> Determine what materials will be the largest components of your project and concentrate on recycling them first. Wood, concrete, dirt and asphalt will likely make up the majority of your waste and are easily reusable. If you pay to have your waste hauled away, specifically designate that you want the loads or debris boxes taken to a recycling facility. Keep construction and demolition recyclables separate from your garbage. Designate specific containers for certain materials and label them with large, clear signs. Keeping materials separated onsite will allow for more recycling options and lower your disposal costs. Also, keep in mind that all facilities charge less for clean loads (only one material) of wood, Green waste, concrete/asphalt and dirt. If you take your demolished materials to a mixed construction and demolition recycling facility, you can put everything into one bin and be assured the majority of it will be recycled. A load of mixed construction and demolition materials can include cardboard, drywall, metal, untreated wood and small amounts of inert material (asphalt, brick, concrete, dirt, rock, sand, soil and stone). Mixed loads should never include plastic, food waste or hazardous materials. <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/" target="_self">Use Diamond Certified Resource to find top rated companies</a> Local, Top Rated Diamond Certified Companies Related to Your Topic <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/contra-costa-demolition/" target="_self">Contra Costa County Demolition Contractors</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/alameda-demolition/" target="_self">Alameda County Demolition Contractors</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/contra-costa-county-excavating/" target="_self">Contra Costa County Excavation Contractors</a> Related Articles <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/Guide/excavating-and-demolition/" target="_self">The Homeowner's Guide to Excavating & Demolition</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Get Expert Advice From Owners of Top Rated Local Companies</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/membership/" target="_self">Become a Diamond Certified Preferred Member (Always Free)</a>