Recycled construction materials are a component of the construction waste management process. They play a crucial role in sustainable and environmentally friendly waste management and building practices.
There is a wide range of forms that recycled construction materials can take. Their popularity has risen as people increasingly look for greener alternatives for building supplies, virgin materials, and natural resources.
This blog explores what recycled construction materials are and how their disposal process is a vital part of waste management. It also briefly connects with the construction and demolition waste industry and their recycling practices.
What are Recycled Construction Materials?
These materials vary widely, including organic substances like mud bricks made from excavated debris and wooden tables crafted from reclaimed timber.
The advantages of using these materials are similar to those of other recycled resources. The aim of recycling is to reduce the overall quantity of waste that ultimately ends up in landfills and disposal sites. Granting materials a “new life” contributes to this reduction.
Additionally, it helps decrease costs throughout the supply chain. Therefore, employing recycled construction materials is beneficial for all; it not only reduces expenses but also aids the environment simultaneously.
Examples of Recycled Construction Materials
Common examples of reusable building materials vary, given the size of the construction and demolition waste industry. Below is a common list of materials usually used alongside sustainable materials during the building process.
- Reclaimed wood
- Reclaimed steel
- Wood cutoffs
- Precast Concrete slabs
- Ferrock
- Recycled Plastic bricks
- Recycled glass
- Recycled concrete
- Reclaimed sand and dirt
- Bamboo
- Glass panels
- Synthetic gypsum board
- Wooden pallets
- Untreated timber
- Enviroboards
- Cardboard
- Reclaimed building materials
Almost anything that can be safely recycled and used in the building process is recycled construction material.
General Recycled Materials
Recycled construction materials are defined as any materials utilised in the building process that have undergone recycling rather than being discarded.
These materials vary widely, including organic substances like mud bricks from excavated debris and wooden tables crafted from reclaimed timber.
The advantages of using these materials are similar to those of other recycled resources. The aim of recycling is to reduce the overall quantity of waste that ultimately ends up in landfills and disposal sites.
It can also help decrease costs throughout the supply chain, which, if anything, should make the use of recycled construction material appear far more useful to a business-minded person.
Recycled Construction Materials in Australia
The construction sector is a significant industry in Australia. It is crucial for this sector to contribute to creating a greener and more sustainable future.
Luckily, in Australia, many companies have seen the role that they need to play here. More find themselves using recycled construction materials throughout their process.
However, this effort extends beyond merely using recycled materials. Many companies can aid in fostering recycling within their waste management practices.
Benefits of Recycled Construction Materials
Using recycled building materials has major benefits for the construction industry. This is both environmentally friendly and very cost effective for a company to do.
Utilising recycled building materials not only aids in reducing waste but also fosters innovation and creativity within your team. Let’s examine an example to delve deeper into this.
If your goal is to lower your carbon footprint by reusing building materials, the way these materials are utilised is determined by your builders and constructors.
For example, recycled plastic can be transformed into bricks, wood, or various other products. Essentially, any salvaged materials can be repurposed in different ways.
Creativity should be encouraged in as many ways as possible, and this can be done by engaging employees to consider how they can use recycled construction materials safely and effectively.
The Cost Benefit of Recycled Construction Materials
The environmental advantages of reusing building materials are significant, but the financial benefits should also be considered. This is true for many businesses, including those working in construction.
This is partly due to the expensive nature of new materials required for construction projects. Recycling can contribute to reducing these expenses while lowering carbon emissions.
Construction materials can be sourced from existing resources that are no longer in use. Some of these materials might even be available right at the construction site.
Less Production Waste
Simply put, reducing the amount of materials produced leads to a decrease in waste. When a company opts for recycled building materials, it generates less waste.
However, this impact extends beyond just the obvious waste at the construction site. For example, the energy needed to create new bricks often requires electricity sourced from coal-powered plants, which are harmful to the environment and indicate that environmental issues should be considered beyond the confines of the construction area.
Recycling minimises the building materials that enter the waste stream, but it also plays a crucial role in significantly reducing waste throughout various supply chains.
Recycled Building Materials vs Recycled Construction Materials
Recycled building materials are somewhat different from construction materials. Building materials encompass items that contribute to the development of a site or project, such as kitchen countertops and other types of furniture.
In contrast, construction materials refer to the larger components that constitute the structure, including steel, glass, and cement. Both types can be recycled because of the various advantages discussed earlier.
Ultimately, if we aim to create a more sustainable and eco-friendly planet, we might as well reside in homes constructed with recycled materials like recycled concrete aggregates.
Conclusion
Recycled construction materials have a value that should not be ignored. Their disposal is important because it can do more than just lay the foundations for a recyclable house. They are a great example of how waste products can continue to have a life before their appearance.
There are many such examples within the waste management industry, and that is why it is so important to get involved where you can. Companies like Evoro frequently work to improve waste systems, so consider contacting them for your specific waste management needs.