Construction and Demolition Operations

Construction and demolition waste is a significant component of the waste stream and most of the materials involved can be r-used or recycled with the minimum of reprocessing. The technology for segregation and recovery of useful materials from demolition waste has been available for some time and there is an existing market for recycled aggregates in various types of construction projects.

Due to the high weight:volume ratio of construction and demolition materials there are substantial savings to be made in reusing materials already available on site, rather than transporting virgin materials from a distance. Add to this savings in waste transport and disposal costs and it becomes clear that recycling these materials can improve the profit margin on your project, whilst reducing the volume of waste that needs to be landfilled.

There are of course limitations on the reuse of these materials particularly in construction where some performance specifications can only be assured using virgin materials. Recycled materials may be slightly more inconsistent and occasionally contaminated with unsuitable materials. Despite these considerations there are still ample opportunities for recycling and reusing a proportion of waste materials in most projects.

Options for accessing recycled materials include processing materials on site, by hiring the necessary plant e.g. crushers and screens and in many circumstances this can be highly effective and the prepared materials can be incorporated into construction at the same site or transported. Centralised processing is likely to involve more sophisticated equipment and may be able to produce a more consistent grade of material, but there will be attendant transport costs to and from the processing location.

Other materials from the demolition and construction industry can also be recycled through salvage yards. The increasing popularity of period fixtures and fittings has meant that salvaged goods, even those in fairly poor condition can reach reasonable prices at resale to the general public or contractors.

There has almost always been viable market for metals reclaimed from a variety of sources, which would include metals salvaged from demolition operations.

Some ways of reducing waste simply involve better management and handling of materials and will inevitably save money on a construction project:

• Ensure the correct volume of materials is ordered for the work to be undertaken and store the materials appropriately to avoid contamination or deterioration
• Co-ordinate with other contractors or developers in the supply of materials and services to avoid repeated deliveries or excavations
  
• Ensure when preparing contracts for demolition and construction operations that clauses are included requiring the reuse of materials where possible.