Build better by reusing construction materials
Waste diversion helps industry, environment
Idon’t like waste — and the idea of tearing out good kitchen cabinets or plumbing fixtures and just tossing them into a dumpster drives me absolutely crazy.
As a contractor, I try to make sure anything of value that we tear out gets sent to a reuse centre. To me, it just makes sense to recycle and reuse building materials as much as we can. As contractors, if we handle demolition carefully, there are a lot of building materials that can be repurposed or recycled, instead of ending up in the landfill. In the industry, this is what we call waste diversion.
Over half of the waste from the building industry — which amounts to over 100 million tons a year — comes from renovations and demolitions. The sad part is, only a small percentage of that — less than a quarter — is properly recycled.
The first step in the solution to the problem is to build better in the first place. It’s time to stop using building materials that will rot or develop mould within a few years — and we need to stop using the those building “techniques” that have proven time and again to create condensation that leads to the mould.
It’s our environmental responsibility to deal with construction waste in a way that recycles or reuses as many materials as possible.
RESPONSIBLE CHOICES
A renovation is the perfect chance to make smart upgrades to your home that will last longer, and be more environmentally efficient. Think about it, even from a lighting standpoint. Using LED lights that last up to 50 times longer than old incandescent bulbs means you’re producing less waste because you don’t have to replace the bulbs as often. Don’t forget your electronics, either. Instead of tossing them in the garbage when they’ve reached the end of their life, look up local electronic recycling centres in your area to responsibly handle your e-waste.
Now take that concept to the rest of your home. Select upgrades that are smart, and long-lasting. A metal roof, for example, will typically last a lot longer than a roof with traditional asphalt shingles.
SOURCE RECYCLED MATERIALS
I love the look of reclaimed brick and stonework. I think it makes a great addition to many rooms. A lot of great, used stonework comes from institutional buildings that have been demolished. You can often find reclaimed granite from the foundations, walls, stairs, columns or ornaments. And if you’re a big fan of marble, it’s often used in flooring or in bathrooms — and when it’s been recovered with care, can be a great find.
My son loves to build things in the workshop; and some of his best work has come from using reclaimed wood. Once you know what materials are out there, you can really get creative with your building materials. Have you ever seen a tiny home made out of shipping containers? The possibilities are almost endless.
WASTE DIVERSION
During demolition, waste should always be sorted and recycled. It drives me crazy to see how many companies send construction waste right to the landfill without taking the time see what can be properly recycled, like drywall. I work with a builder in British Columbia who was able to keep 300 lbs. (136 kilograms) of recyclable material out of the landfill — and that’s what I want to see more builders doing.
One of my favourite methods of managing excess waste is to deconstruct the home, rather than undertake the demolition process. Deconstruction is essentially “unbuilding” the home — it makes sorting through materials to see what’s salvageable much simpler. As much fun as it is to smash and tear down, taking that extra step to unbuild leaves our reusable materials intact and ready to be transported to their new home.
Often, when we renovate, it’s to refresh our homes, and bring some new life to an old space. The fact is, many of the big-ticket items we replace during a major renovations (like cabinets, furniture or plumbing fixtures) are being
ONE OF MY FAVOURITE METHODS ... IS TO DECONSTRUCT THE HOME, RATHER THAN UNDERTAKE THE DEMOLITION PROCESS. DECONSTRUCTION IS ESSENTIALLY ‘UNBUILDING’ THE HOME — IT MAKES SORTING THROUGH MATERIALS TO SEE WHAT’S SALVAGEABLE MUCH SIMPLER. — MIKE HOLMES
changed out while they still could see many more years of use. Instead of heaving it all into the dumpster, remove any features that are still in usable condition and donate them to local organizations that can provide them to homeowners in need.
No matter what we do, our jobsites will always create some waste. But it’s up to us as contractors and homeowners to make educated decisions in how we build, and what techniques we use, to reduce the materials that go into our landfills every year. Sustainable building needs to be a factor we consider during all stages of construction — even demolition.