Using recycled materials in construction is not only good for the environment but also saves money. These materials serve the same purpose as other materials but come at a fraction of the cost.
Most building materials are highly recyclable, especially steel and asphalt. When these materials are removed from a job site they can be crushed and accrued on-site or sent to a recycling plant for processing.
Saves Money
The construction industry produces tons of waste, and much of it can be recycled. Using recycled materials in construction saves money on building supplies and disposal costs, and helps to protect the environment. Recycled materials also save on energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In many cases, recycled materials are much cheaper than their raw counterparts. In addition, using recycled materials in construction can save on landfill fees and associated taxes. Some companies also offer incentives to encourage the use of recycled materials in their construction projects.
Construction sites generate a lot of waste material, from demolition scraps to old concrete and asphalt. Traditionally, most of this material ends up in landfills. However, it can be repurposed as more useful items. For example, reclaimed steel can be used in the manufacturing of new building materials. It can also be melted down and used as rebar for reinforced concrete. Other common recycling materials include glass, plastic, and gypsum board.
Similarly, wood can be recycled into lumber and other products, including insulation. In some cases, discarded paper can be reused as wood fibers, or turned into boiler fuel or mulch. Metals such as aluminum and copper can be melted down and reused. Reusing these materials reduces the need to dig up and mine new resources, which requires a lot of energy.
Reduces Waste
The more materials recycled in a project, the fewer new materials must be purchased. This reduces the strain on natural resources and lowers overall costs. This also limits the amount of waste that is produced, including greenhouse gases and water pollutants.
Reusing existing materials also reduces energy consumption. It takes far less energy to process reclaimed materials than it does to create new ones. For example, corrugated cardboard can be reused to make dozens of different paper products, including facial tissue and toilet paper. The same can be said for steel and other metals, which can be turned into new construction materials or used to make vehicles and bike frames.
The most obvious benefit of using recycled materials in a project is that it keeps thousands of pounds of construction and demolition (C&D) waste out of landfills. Since C&D waste produces the dangerous gas hydrogen sulfide, keeping it out of landfills is essential to public health. Reusing materials also means that fewer materials are sent to waste processing facilities.
C&D waste recycling is a key part of the sustainable building movement. While sustainability and recycling were once seen as just a passing fad, they have become increasingly important as consumers demand more environmentally friendly choices. This trend will likely continue as more people become aware of their environmental footprint and make changes to their purchasing habits. Moreover, technological developments will eventually render conventional building materials obsolete, making recycled alternatives the standard in the construction industry.
Reduces Energy Consumption
One of the most obvious benefits of using recycled materials is that it reduces energy consumption during construction. It takes far more energy to transport new building materials than to reuse existing ones. This is especially true if the materials are sourced locally, as opposed to being shipped from a distant location. For example, sourcing concrete from local recycled material instead of from a factory uses significantly less energy.
The majority of construction waste is recyclable, and many materials can be used multiple times. For example, steel cans are repurposed into pipes and other building components, while gypsum board can be used to make walls again after demolition. Glass is another commonly recycled product, as it can be turned into new windows and doors or used as an accent wall. Even corrugated cardboard is repurposed into wood panels for walls, ceilings, and floors.
In addition, the energy required to transform and produce recycled materials is a fraction of what is needed for new products made from virgin raw materials. For instance, it takes 95 percent less energy to turn aluminum scrap into new cans than to create them from raw aluminum. This greatly reduces fossil fuel depletion and the associated climate change, human toxicity, and particulate matter impacts.
In addition to reducing energy costs, construction companies that use recycled materials can benefit from tax incentives and other government incentives. They also minimize waste generation and reduce pressure on landfills and waste management facilities.
Reduces Carbon Footprint
Using recycled materials in construction reduces your carbon footprint by lowering the need for more natural resources to be used. This is because many building materials can be recycled at the end of their life, such as wood and metals, to create new products. This process takes significantly less energy than creating a product from raw materials, as recycling also eliminates the need to transport new materials across the country or world.
Moreover, recycled materials are better for the environment because they can be sourced locally. Many of these materials are sorted on site as they are removed from the project, or at least collected and taken to a facility to be separated for reuse. This is much more efficient than sending everything to a landfill where it will be buried under thousands of tons of other waste.
Many different building materials can be recycled, including concrete and asphalt, glass, wood, and masonry. These recycled products can often be used as-is or reshaped to suit the needs of new projects. The use of recycled material can also help reduce the amount of waste created during construction, and can save on landfill fees.
Some cities have even gone as far as to require builders to measure the embodied carbon of their buildings before they can receive a permit. This helps to limit the damage done to the planet and can encourage developers to seek out greener alternatives for their projects.