What is Building Recycling?

At one time or another you have likely seen a building or home being demolished and removed. The process of demolition refers to bringing a building down as quickly as possible and disposing of the resulting materials in a landfill or other waste management facility. On the other hand, building recycling or deconstruction refers to the precise dismantlement of a building or home. Building recycling allows the materials that are in decent condition to be taken out and preserved for use in another location.

The concept of recycling a building is typically segregated into two categories. The first, non-structural, involves removing those items that are not instrumental in the building or home’s structure. These items include doors, windows, appliances, cabinets, and flooring among others. The second category, structural, includes exterior coverings (brick, siding, stone, etc.), lumber, and concrete. Metal pipes and electrical wiring are also recyclable and can be sold to a metals dealer.

The typical process of building recycling first involves making an inventory of the items that will be salvaged; especially those that are non-structural. These items can then be stored and reused by the original owner or sold to other local builders.

Recycling buildings is a great way to contribute to the sustainability of our planet. Reusing building components puts less of a strain on the environment as fewer new materials are needed. This reduces the energy consumption and emissions produced by manufacturing. In addition, the discarded materials from construction and demolition, which accounts for 20% of the total solid waste, is reduced. This helps to lighten the load on landfills throughout the world.

If you liked this post, please consider subscribing to the RSS feed using the link at the top of this page or at the bottom of this post.  If you have any thoughts or ideas to share about building recycling, please share them with the community by leaving a comment below.

One Response to “What is Building Recycling?”

1. A Look at Ways Energy is Recycled | Sustainable Planet Today says:

   June 28, 2009 at 4:07 pm

   [...] is this an example of recycling energy? Yes, it is! If not used in the heating system, this excess warmth is simply diffused into [...]