The construction industry has historically been known for generating a significant amount of landfill-destined waste. However, today’s building innovators recognize that waste reduction is a necessary and achievable step to creating a greener world. Members of the construction industry are implementing practices to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials on job sites, which is diverting debris from landfills. According to the EPA, these efforts show promising results with over “455 million tons of C&D debris … directed to next use” (EPA, Environmental Protection Agency).
These waste reduction goals can be attributed to a general societal focus on sustainability. Efforts to reuse, reduce, and recycle are increasing each day as we work to protect the earth from the impacts of human activity. Reducing waste on job sites is also partially driven by criteria for achieving green ratings and certifications, such as LEED. Through LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), buildings can achieve different levels of certification by implementing sustainable practices or products during construction and beyond. LEED, and other rating systems, have prioritized sustainability in the built environment and have pushed many projects toward more stringent green goals than in previous years. This has resulted in reduced construction and demolition waste. For example, “the Department of Energy reviewed 22 LEED-certified buildings managed by the General Services Administration … [which] diverted more than 80 million tons of waste from landfills” (usgbc.org). Reducing, reusing, and recycling materials on the job site can assist construction managers (CMs) in reducing the impacts of construction on the environment.
Reducing Materials Through Prefabrication and Paperless Systems
Advancements in prefabrication allow CMs to build more efficiently and reduce waste on job sites. Construction prefabrication is the process of manufacturing building components off-site in a controlled environment before transporting them to the construction site for assembly. Prefabricated elements can include ductwork and piping, wood-frame panels, and storefront and curtain wall assemblies.
Traditionally, materials are cut-to-size on-site which, inherently, produces excess waste. But in today’s environment, trade contractors can use custom-sized materials so that they are completely used, and do not create excess waste. Prefabrication can also improve worker safety, as workers do not need to cut as many materials on-site because field-fit elements are virtually eliminated. Prefabrication also reduces truck traffic and manpower which can help improve carbon footprint on a project.
Paperless systems also reduce job site waste. iPads and computers are used to track project progress, change orders, RFIs, and other communication or project management needs. These systems reduce the amount of paper waste produced on job sites, thus ensuring more sustainability. These simple strategies help CMs make a difference in the construction industry and be the change needed to have a more sustainable building future.
Reusing Materials on Site
Repurposing existing materials located on or near job sites plays a significant role in waste reduction. The EPA recognizes that “demolition represents more than 90 percent of total C&D debris generation, while construction represents less than 10 percent.” Reusing or repurposing materials instead of demolishing and disposing of unusable waste contributes to a greener job site and reduces the project’s carbon footprint. Owners can also benefit from cost savings and an advancement in project timelines by utilizing this method.
Materials that can be reused on-site may include asphalt, concrete, wood, steel, drywall, or lumber. For example, a concrete slab from a building that is going to be demolished, can instead be crushed up and used as aggregate for the new project’s foundations, filler aggregate, paved areas, or roads. Temporary batch plants are set up on-site and process the materials into usable products for the next project. This requires the equipment to crush and move products instead of bringing in and carrying off truckloads of materials. For instance, at Deepwater Industrial Park, an adjacent building was demolished and turned into aggregate for new construction. This saved both time and money for the owner, as it eliminated the need to bring in new materials, while also reducing waste on-site.
Simple Ways to Recycle On-Site
While the idea to reduce, reuse, and recycle may seem daunting, there are simple strategies that CMs are currently using to implement these systems on job sites. Using dumpsters allows construction teams to separate out what can be repurposed for new projects from what must be thrown away. While not every material can be recycled, saving as much as possible is the right step towards reducing waste. For example, the construction of Stone Brewing, block retaining wall elements were used as barriers for the concrete truck washout areas during construction. These walls were then recycled as landscape features at the entry to the brewery after construction was complete.
Renovation projects also present opportunities for materials recycling. Re-staining or repainting doors and wood features, instead of throwing them away and installing new ones, diverts unnecessary waste. CMs can also remove and recycle appliances, desks, cabinetry, as well as metal, glass, or rock, for future projects. Recycling materials which are not going to be used on-site is helpful because they can be used for future projects. CMs and owners can also buy recycled C&D materials for new projects, a full-circle sustainable solution that reduces construction waste.
Building a Brighter Future
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. These terms are used in our daily conversations as people work to implement them and build a better, greener future. While the construction industry does generate large amounts of waste, CMs and owners are working every day to implement sustainable strategies on job sites to limit the amount of debris that goes to landfills. Strategies such as reducing materials by utilizing prefabricated products and going paperless, reusing materials on-site, and recycling items are beneficial ways to reduce waste. These strategies also help save time and money on projects and can help reduce the carbon footprint. The construction industry is seeing certifications implemented, such as LEED, which drive the construction industry towards more stringent sustainability goals. These strategies will build a brighter future for everyone by protecting our planet and advancing our world.
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