Tips for recycling construction site waste

Every construction site is bound to have its own share of trash. In the United States, construction waste accounts for one third of all of the refuse in the country. So how do you stay environmental and help keep the area clean and safe? There are certain items that you could recycle in order to be environmentally friendly and keep Mother Earth looking and feeling great. Check out a few of these simple recycling tips for your construction site waste to help keep your site environmentally friendly.

It is important to know exactly what material you are dealing with and whether or not it is recyclable. There are many different materials that you can recycle, so when able, it’s best to check with your local recycle services and landfill locations to determine whether a material is recyclable or not when you’re in doubt. Some construction site materials that are recyclable include:

• Windows, doors, and roofing
• Appliances and fixtures, including sinks and baths
• Lumber and wood products
• Metals
• Vegetation and trees
• Cardboard and paper
• Plastic crates/containers, bags, and sheets

One way to recycle some of these items is to build it back into the new building. This is the easiest way to recycle construction site waste, especially in remodeling projects when walls are not entirely demolished, but rather redecorated, moved, or reconfigured. Lumber cutoffs can also be used for a variety of uses, such as fire blocking or spacers.

If you need to, locate and check with your local recycling center to see what material you can bring out to recycle. It is possible that it would be too much time, effort, and gas to transport that material, so you may need to make a different plan, such as minimizing your waste volume.

If you are doing a demolition and have some leftover cabinets, doors, windows, etc. look into places where you can donate them, such as the Habitat for Humanity ReStore who will sell them to people needing to do a new project. This is a great way to recycle some construction waste rather than throwing it into the landfill. You can also donate unused paint, stain, solvent, and sealant in order to cut back on paints being thrown away. Or if you know that you’re going to be doing more projects with those colors, save them for another project.

There are lots of ways to help recycle products that are used on construction sites to cut back on landfill waste. Check with your local recycling center to see what they accept or if they have any other ideas for your project.