The construction industry is a massive sector that produces a significant amount of waste. This waste is mainly the result of building and renovation works.
Some of these waste materials can be recycled or reused. Others can be disposed of in landfills.
There are also some waste materials that can be burned for energy. These include aluminum, copper, and plastic items.
Wood
Wood is a natural, renewable building material that creates warm spaces that feel comfortable. It also has a lower carbon footprint than concrete and steel, as it is able to absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere. Its structural properties make it a good choice for high-rise buildings and wide-area load-bearing structures.
It has excellent static quality and offers a high level of tensile and pressure resistance. Furthermore, it is an effective insulator and helps save energy. It is a perfect choice for regions with cold climates, as it keeps the building warm while reducing electricity usage.
Timber can be used for a variety of construction purposes, including joiningery timber, floorboards and smooth planed timbers, as well as scaffolding timber, shuttering timber and carcassing timber. It is also used for the manufacture of doors, windows and stairs. OSB (Oriented Strand Board) is a popular building product made from small strips of waste timber and bonded with phenol formaldehyde, which is less toxic than urea formaldehyde. It is often used as exterior sheathing and as the centre web of engineered wood I-Joists.
Metals
The use of metal in building construction is very common as it offers a variety of benefits such as durability and resistance to all types of weather. This is why architects and designers often choose to construct their buildings with materials like copper, aluminum and steel.
Steel is one of the most popular metals used in building construction as it is strong, durable and affordable. It can also withstand all types of weather and is highly resistant to corrosion. It is widely used in everything from steel girders to steel roofing and even steel windows.
Other metals used in building construction include copper, brass and zinc. Brass is a combination of copper and zinc that is often used for its dazzling gold-like appearance in structures. It is also a good choice for areas that require low erosion resistance. Copper is a versatile material with amazing physical properties such as strength, flexibility and conductivity. It is often used to make pipes, tubing, cladding, electrical wiring and rainwater systems. It is very versatile and can be molded into any shape needed.
Drywall
Drywall is a building material used to cover framing on walls and ceilings. It is made from gypsum, a powdery white or gray sulfate mineral, which is mixed with additives to create a slurry that is sandwiched between two sheets of paper. Depending on the type of paper and the chemicals in the slurry, different types of drywall are produced. These include moisture resistant drywall, which has water-resistant green paper to reduce mold growth; sound board, which has polymers that convert noise energy to heat energy; lead-lined drywall, which is used in X-ray rooms; and flexible drywall, which is thinner and can conform to curves or arches.
Some drywall is also made from recycled materials, including industrial byproducts like kiln dust, fly ash, slag and cinder. This type of drywall is sometimes called Eco Rock or Sheetrock, and can offer advantages such as resistance to termites, mildew and mold. It may also be reinforced with fiberglass, which makes it more fire-resistant. These products can be used in kitchens, bathrooms and sterile areas of hospitals and doctor’s offices.
Agricultural Wastes
Agricultural wastes can be converted into recycled building materials that are both eco-friendly and cost-efficient. These waste materials include straw, wheat, rice husks, canola stalks, and oat hulls. These waste products are a great source of material for construction, as they are lightweight and have excellent thermal and acoustic properties.
Agro-waste can be used to produce different types of building construction materials including bricks/masonry components, green concrete, insulation and reinforcement materials, and particleboards. Researchers have found that the use of agro-waste in the production of these materials can lead to better quality materials with greater strength and binding properties.
Aside from using agro-waste, scientists are also experimenting with other recycled materials such as paper, glass and plastics in the fabrication of new building materials. This research is helping to bridge the gap between agriculture and building construction industries, thereby creating a circular system that will benefit both sectors in the long run. As a result, this could help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve energy.
Construction Demolition Wastes
During the construction of new buildings and structures, renovation of old ones, partial building demolition and full-building demolition projects, Construction and Demolition waste (CDW) is generated. This type of debris can be a major source of waste in a construction project, but it is also a valuable resource when disposed properly.
Recycling C&D materials reduces landfill fees and helps the environment. It also benefits builders and contractors through the creation of jobs in the recycling industry, as well as by allowing them to differentiate themselves from their competitors by demonstrating their commitment to sustainability.
To identify ways to reduce the CDW produced during building construction, a survey was conducted among contractors on how they currently treat their material waste. The treatment options included recycle/reuse, composting, incineration and landfilling. The most popular response was recycle/reuse, followed by incineration and landfilling. However, these results indicate that a great deal of CDW still ends up in landfills, even though many of these materials have established recycled markets. This can be a result of not having an adequate waste management plan for construction.