C&D Disposal: What is Construction Waste Disposal

Waste from construction sites takes up a lot of space in landfills. It’s estimated that waste from construction and demolition (C&D) takes up over 4,300 acres of depth of 50 feet. That equals over 3 billion square yards of landfill each year! There are ways to get rid of C&D debris that is both environmentally and fiscally responsible. But what is construction waste disposal? 

In this article we’re going to take a look at:

• What is Construction Demolition Debris?
• How to Manage Construction Waste
• Benefits of Proper Construction Waste Disposal
• Interesting Facts about Construction Waste Disposal
• How to Improve Your Construction Waste Disposal Process
• How Wall Recycling Can Help with Your Construction Waste Disposal

What is Construction and Demolition Debris?

Construction and demolition debris is a type of waste that is not included in regular municipal solid waste. These are typically materials used in buildings, roads, and bridges, just to name a few. 

Examples of C&D Material:

The debris that is coming from those areas can include any of the following:

• Steel
• Wood
• Drywall
• Plaster
• Brick and clay tile
• Asphalt shingles
• Concrete
• Metal, including piping
• Glass and windows
• Landscape waste

That’s a long list of items that could be clogging up landfills if they are not disposed of efficiently.

How to Manage Construction Waste

Rather than throwing debris in a landfill, there are better ways to manage construction waste. Here are some ideas:

Reduce Waste at the Construction Site

The best way to manage waste is to make less of it. Look at ways you can make changes to the way you design, build, and use products.

Salvage Items from Your Site

Look at the construction waste you’re generating. Many items in your “waste” pile could be salvaged and reused on another project. Commonly recovered construction and demolition waste include:

• Gypsum wallboard
• Wood, brick, and concrete
• Material recovered from land clearing
• Asphalt paving and shingles
• Non-asphalt paving and shingles

Before you dump this material, think of ways you can reuse it to save time and money.

Concrete Disposal

Our reclamation services include concrete disposal. At Wall Recycling, just bring your materials to our reclamation yard and we will reclaim and repurpose your material. 

Any concrete, brick, or asphalt you no longer need can be repurposed into ABC stone. Wall Recycling offers concrete block crushing for construction and demolition projects all through Raleigh and the Triangle area.

This is a perfect building material for driveways and other road bases. This saves you time and money while helping the environment. It’s a win-win all around!

Recycle Construction Debris

There are many opportunities to recycle building materials and construction debris. At Wall Recycling, we recycle scrap metal and other materials from projects. This allows you to earn money for metal you no longer need from your construction site while helping the environment.  

We can accept the following items for recycling:

• Steel
• Copper 
• Aluminum
• Cardboard
• Plastics
• Wood

You can drop off your scrap metal at one of our five recycling centers throughout Eastern North Carolina or you can schedule a convenient pick-up.

Buy Used and Recycled Building Materials

You can not only recycle materials yourself but buy materials that have been recycled. It is possible to buy used material that doesn’t lose its quality when reused.

Get the Right-Size Materials for the Job

Don’t buy materials that are going to go to waste. Only buy what you need to save on waste and money.

Choose Building Products with Minimal Packaging

Look for products with minimal packaging. This will reduce the amount of immediate waste you’re creating by just opening your materials.

Reduce Construction Mistakes

We all make mistakes, but if you can reduce incorrect measuring, you can reduce waste. Things that are not being used are likely going to get thrown away. With the right precision, you can reduce the amount of materials that go into the garbage pile.

Benefits of Proper Construction Waste Disposal

There are several benefits of proper construction waste disposal for the environment and the economy.

Environmental Benefits of C&D Waste Disposal

By reducing the number of resources they use, construction companies can lower their carbon footprint. The constant production of fresh material weighs heavily on natural resources. It also takes a lot of energy to process and transport. Production processes add to the emission of greenhouse gasses and release pollutants into the ground and water systems.

Recycling construction debris takes much less energy and resources. Reusing and recycling building materials keeps them out of landfills which is much better for the environment.

Economic Benefits of C&D Waste Disposal

You can save a good amount of money by not only bringing scrap metal to recycling centers but also purchasing recovered scrap materials. Recycling construction waste is in high demand in various sectors. The cost of production, transportation, and handling is also lower when you take this route. Recycling also creates more jobs and helps to boost the local economy.

Interesting Facts about Construction Waste Disposal

To better understand the benefits of construction waste disposal and just how much waste is produced, consider these interesting facts:

• The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 230-600 million tons of C&D waste are produced across the country every year
• In just one year, C&D debris accounted for more than twice the amount of generated municipal solid waste in the U.S.
• More than 90% of C&D debris comes from demolition projects.
• According to The Federal Highway Agency, it is now possible to recycle 90-100% of reclaimed asphalt pavement.
• More developers are seeing the benefits of LEED certification. They are using the LEED process because it immediately impacts their bottom line.

At Wall Recycling, we are committed to helping you with your LEED program. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a program aimed at transforming the marketplace by providing a nationally recognized certification system to promote integrated, whole-building design practices. 

If you are a part of the LEED program, we take your materials and provide you with accurate and comprehensive data about what we processed. We can also divide this information into the types of materials so that you can see how much we collected and processed for you.

How to Improve Your Construction Waste Disposal Process

We can all use a little help in streamlining our processes on the job. When it comes to construction waste disposal, there are several things you can do to improve the process.

Have a Plan

You should have a waste disposal plan from the beginning of your project. This will detail what materials will be used and which will most likely become waste, how waste generation will vary depending on what is going on in the project, how waste will be handled, and how it will be removed.

Your plan should take into consideration worker and environmental safety as well as efficiency. Always be sure your plan is following all local and federal guidelines when it comes to waste disposal.

Separate Materials On-Site

As part of your construction waste disposal, you’ll want to separate waste by the type of material. If you do this on-site, you can save money and it’s better for the environment. You not only know what you’re dealing with, but you’re also getting rid of it quickly so it’s not polluting the area.

While this can be difficult for workers to follow on the job, in the end, it will save time and is something that should be communicated to your construction crew.

Outline Disposal Responsibilities for Subcontractors

If you have any subcontractors working on your project, clearly outline who is responsible for construction waste disposal on-site. Everyone should be aware of their responsibilities and the protocols. They should also educate themselves on the environmental regulations when it comes to disposing of certain types of waste.

Look at Waste Reduction Strategies

As we mentioned above, always look for ways to reduce waste at your construction site. This can reusing and recycling items as well as buying items that have been recycled.

Rent a Dumpster for Construction Waste Disposal

At Wall Recycling we are committed to helping the environment and our customers. If you want to learn more about how you can efficiently dispose of your construction and demolition debris, contact us. We can educate you about our recycling programs and you can see where your items fit in.

We also offer dumpster rentals at Wall Recycling to help you handle all of your construction waste. Roll-off dumpsters are often best used for construction projects, cleanouts, and demolition projects. These types of dumpsters are loaded onto and off of a truck where they are hauled away to be emptied.

Types of Material That Roll-Off Dumpsters Can Collect:

• Shingles
• Brick
• Wood
• Countertops
• Cabinets
• Plumbing Fixtures
• Junk, including old toys, furniture, and small appliances
• Yard and outdoor waste

Items That Can’t Be Placed in Roll-Off Dumpsters:

• Hot water heaters
• Printer and toner cartridges
• Tires
• Refrigerators
• Car batteries
• Household cleaners
• Construction debris with asbestos
• Medical Waste

Roll-Off Dumpster Sizes

Wall Recycling offers a variety of dumpster sizes to best suit your needs.

• 10-Yard Dumpster

Perfect for small to mid-sized projects where you need to haul away concrete, asphalt, shingles, drywall, etc.

• 15-Yard Dumpster

Similar to the 10-yard but with slightly more capacity. This size is best for medium-sized projects.

• 20-Yard Dumpster

This dumpster is designed for heavier materials and is ideal for landscaping, construction, and small building remodeling projects.

• 30-Yard Dumpster

This is our most popular rental dumpster. Good for landscaping projects, demolitions, and other large construction projects.

• 40-Yard Dumpster

Best for large-scale industrial projects. It’s designed for businesses with wide loading docks.

Final Word: C&D Waste Disposal

Getting rid of construction and demolition debris is important for the success of your project and for the environment. If you have more questions about construction waste disposal or where to find a C&D recycling center near you, contact us or browse our site to choose your preferred location. We have landfills, recycling, and concrete crushing centers throughout North Carolina.

Whether you’re looking to rent a dumpster or recycle your construction items, Wall Recycling is here to help. Call us today at (919) 582-7777 or reach out to us online to learn more!