Recycling Construction & Demolition Waste

Today is Global Recycling Day and this year the theme is 'Recycling Heroes'.?The theme has been chosen to recognise and applaud those people who are actively involved in recycling waste and making this planet a better place to live in. And what better day to showcase #Ecoparadigm’s role as a recycling hero in the field of environmental and civil engineering!

We notice that Construction and Demolition waste is a major environmental concern in most of the Indian municipalities, as construction waste generated in India is about 150 – 500 million tonnes every year. In our experience, we have used as much as C & D materials as possible to make ourselves “Recycling Heroes”.

What are C & D materials?

Construction and Demolition materials consist of the debris generated during the construction, renovation and demolition of buildings, roads, bridges and other civil structures.

Common Materials Recycling Practices and Uses·?????

• ?Ferrous and non-ferrous metals are among the most valuable materials in the construction and demolition waste stream and consistently demonstrate the highest diversion rate of all the recoverable materials.
• ?Concrete is crushed, and embedded metals removed for recycling.
• Rock and cement pieces are crushed, screened and separated to produce useful aggregates of various dimensions.
• Doors, windows, and hardware often have value in a secondary market.
• Brick, concrete and masonry can be recycled on site as fill, subbase material.

Other materials that can be recycled are Asphalt, Gypsum, Plastics and Glass.

?Benefits of Recycling construction and demolition waste

The benefits of recycling construction and demolition waste are manifold.

• It curtails the volume of waste destined for landfills, preserving precious space.
• ?It conserves resources by promoting reuse, lessening the demand for new materials.
• Recycling and reusing these materials significantly diminish carbon emissions, contributing to a greener environment.
• Energy savings also abound, as recycling requires less energy compared to manufacturing new materials.
• ?It stimulates the local economy by supporting locally-sourced materials.
• Furthermore, it reduces construction costs and ensures that materials from recycling programs are effectively repurposed, maximizing the benefits of recycling and reuse efforts.
• Embracing recycled materials not only makes environmental sense but also economic and social sense, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

The Global Recycling Foundation was established in 2018 to promote recycling and conservation worldwide. The Global Recycling Day was decided to be observed on March 18th and is recognised by the United Nations, as recycling is part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.