It is essential for sustainable solid waste management to identify the reduction, recycling and reuse of waste, which means eliminating waste where possible, and reusing materials which might otherwise become waste.
Construction debris in the United States accounts for one-third of all waste nationwide. Therefore, even modest efforts to make better use of existing building materials can make significant changes. Depending on your building project old and excess materials can include:
- windows, doors, and roofing
- lumber and wood products
- metals
- vegetation and trees
- cardboard and paper
The challenge has always been how to manage construction debris.
Local waste management is one of the top solutions to managing sustainable refuse. The keyword here is: local! If it takes too much time, effort, and gas to transport construction waste for recycling, look to another solution (like avoiding waste instead). Then add necessary trips to your overall construction schedule to minimize overall impact.
