Construction and Demolition Waste

Construction and Demolition waste is the secondRe-using local and building stone and slate are
large-volume waste with potential for recovery. Cimportant for maintaining and restoring the existing
and D waste is produced when buildings, engineeringbuilding stock and ensuring the distinctive character
works and roads are constructed, renovated orand local variation is retained in new buildings.
demolished. Useful resources can be recovered fromCornwall's building stone, is one example which is also
these waste concrete and recycled.valued for architectural and decorative uses in
Construction and Demolition waste is strictly confinedprestigious buildings, and can be collected cleaned and
to specific construction materials as wood, brick,re-used.
metal, concrete, and drywall; and not items such asAvoiding Water Borne Emissions
paper, appliances, plastics, cardboard and mattresses.Sustainable building also involves the avoidance of
Transport of C and D Waste is usually achieved bydischarging water-borne pollution. Building and
utilizing various container sizes from 15 cubic yards toconstruction waste can enter our waterways through
106 cubic yards.storm-water drains, and is a major cause of water
Sustainable Management of Construction andpollution. We've all seen those piles of sand and
Demolition Wastesediments piled on the strip beside roads and ditches,
Sustainability and the careful use of natural resourcesonly to be washed away with the next rain.
can be areas in which construction companies canHowever, any leak of suspended solid material and/
distinguish themselves. The image of socialor waste leachate to a watercourse may have
responsibility any city or business can give itselfextremely damaging environmental effects, and thus
through Sustainable Waste Management will help it tothe amount of regular site monitoring should if
obtain a leading position. To be able to show thatpossible be increased.
your company has a high reputation for sustainabilityIn some countries of the world, rising affluence and
can improve the attractiveness of companies, whichthe analysis of building permits issued, show that on
will result in the creation of more jobs and a betteraverage housing size is increasing by almost 8% per
standard of living.year. Today based upon 2005 building permits
Sustainable buildings are simply better financially,activity, the reality in one example as quoted on the
better for people, and better for the environment.worldwide web showed average house size up over
Through sustainable design and operation of buildings,2200 square feet, and this is up from 1750 square
many significant economic and environmentalfeet 3 years ago. This means that there is a lot of
outcomes can be improved.additional building and construction waste to deal with,
Sustainable transportation is an important credentialyear on year
for these transport industries, and it is important thatBuilding a typical new home is said to generate about
to have the ability to evaluate which are the right4 tons of waste. Recycling can save 80 percent or
transport/ delivery products to enable customers tomore from going into a landfill.
switch to a safer transport solution and one thatVarious studies in developed countries have indicated
lowers their carbon footprint.that one good method of improving construction
Sustainability or green management techniques areproject performance is by managing the construction
designed to protect the environment, savewaste better.
resources, and conserve energy. The use ofSo, moving toward sustainable design and
construction waste management techniques whichconstruction, especially in the Waste Management
rely on salvage, recycle and reuse of materials haveSector has found many interested parties in nearly all
proven to have economic benefits for thesectors of the economy. Not surprisingly, recent
construction industry, and individual companies.research indicates that cost is the most important
With careful thought these benefits can becomefactor in selection of construction methods or
routine, and also help preserve our naturaltechnologies for building projects. Costs can be
environment.reduced if companies make genuine moves to apply
Sustainable Buildingtheir own assessments of the sustainability of their
Building and demolition waste is derived from theoperations, and invest some cash in improving their
construction, refurbishment or demolition of new orwaste disposal routes and methods where
existing buildings or structures. For example,sustainability is considered tenuous or not sufficiently
approximately 5.0 million tonnes of waste areimplemented to date.
disposed of annually in NSW.