Construction and Demolition Recycling
Reusing and recycling construction and demolition (C&D) materials in Colorado have come a long way in the past decade.Ìý This practice can cut overall project expenses by:
- Avoiding disposal and purchasing costs.
- Generating revenue from materials sold.
- Creating opportunities for tax breaks through material donations.
Other benefits include conserving landfill space, reducing and avoiding the environmental effects of manufacturing new building products, and enhancing your company's public image.
Many projects at CU and in the region are recovering a majority of materials but there is room to improve. ÌýColorado, ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ County, the city of ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ and the university support C&D recycling and building codes emphasizing reuse and recycling.
°Õ³ó¾±²õÌýrecycling guideÌýwill help you recover more materials costs effectively.Ìý It includes lists of reuse and recycling options and helpful local and national resources.
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This is a partial checklist of the types of waste reduction and recycling commonly performed at CU. ÌýSee how many can be completed at your CU project:
- Recover dimension lumber, beams and timbers over 6' in length.
- Salvage usable bricks, blocks, tileÌýand other masonry materials.
- Separate metal radiators, grates, piping, aluminum siding and old appliances for salvage or recycling.
- Recover serviceable cabinets, light fixtures, bathtubs, sinks, hardware, nails, screws and plumbing fittings.
- Reuse joint compound buckets for tool or material storage by clients or crews.
- Make plans for recycling materials before your construction project begins.
- Do not dispose of any construction materials in landfill containers.
- Deliver concrete and asphalt for re-grinding.
- Deliver branches and trees from brush clearing for mulching or composting.
- Flatten and transport cardboard boxes.
- Recycle food and beverage containers.
- Separate metals for recycling and deliver to receive the greatest recovery value.
- Deliver serviceable wood pallets to recyclers.
- Deliver clean wood waste (pallets, non-treated dimensional, trim, sheathing, engineered wood) for grinding and reuse.
- Save or properly dispose of unused portions of paints, stains, solvents and sealants.Ìý Rechargeable batteries from portable power tools should be stored in approved containers.