Recycling - Recycling Building Materials

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When you're renovating, there are bound to be quite a few things you don't want in your home anymore. But before you make a decision to toss these things out the door and onto the garbage heap, think twice. Rather than adding to landfill, with its associated leaching problems, and space expansion, consider the possible ways in which you can recycle that waste instead and perhaps give it a new lease of life. Even if it's not you directly benefiting from the recycling, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you haven't added to the pile of mess!

 

Steps

Tell your renovators, builders, designers, etc. that you're recycling where possible. Unless you let them know that you don't want items disposed of, they won't be any the wiser. It is important to plan ahead and to not only let them know, but to also ask questions of them about the potential for recycling the relevant items.

 

Use a recycling skip as well as a disposal skip. Some items might have to be tossed, given their toxic nature, or unsuitability for recycling. But for those items that can be recycled, make things easier by having the recycling skip available from the start. Alternately, have arrangements in place for the relevant people to collect the items as they become available during renovation.

 

Have your timber recycled. Whether it's from your roof, walls, floors, kitchen cabinets, etc., it is possible somebody can make use of the timber, even if you can't. Ask your architect or builder about the possibility of reusing it within your own project, or have it sent to someone who can make use of it. In turn, only use recycled, or sustainable timber for your renovation. This includes making good use of all offcuts.

 

Keep glass separate. Not all glass is made the same and different recycling methods apply depending on the original use of the glass. Be sure to keep workperson's waste separate from construction waste, meaning that glass bottles go in domestic recycling containers and construction glass goes to the recycling skip or other construction recycling resources.

 

Recycle copper. Anything copper has good value nowadays, including copper used for wiring. Strip such wiring and send any unwanted copper for reuse.

 

Use recycled building materials for your project. As well as making sure to dispose of your renovated waste carefully, be sure to use recycled materials wherever possible in your construction project. Consider such things as:

Railroad sleepers for gardens

Recycled plasterboard (return offcuts to the supplier)

Recycled timber (as discussed above)

Strengthen/waterproof existing windows rather than replacing

Use recycled steel products

Consider preferring an eclectic kitchen rather that uses antique or recycled cabinets, benches, etc. Get a good designer to make it flow

Use recycled concrete

 

Measure properly. In order to minimize waste, get the measurements as accurate as possible, to avoid too many offcuts from any materials. The bonus here is that your budget will be better for it too.

 

Tips

Further information can be found from specialist organizations that deal with building information. Use the internet to find a suitable organization in your area.

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