How to Minimize Construction Waste
Careful planning, strong management and creativity can keep leftover materials out of landfills
Building a sustainable home is not just about installing energy-efficient systems. Another important component is managing waste in well-considered and creative ways. The more you can salvage, repurpose, recycle and reuse, the less will wind up in landfills, and the less destruction and pollution from activities like mining will occur. Cutting down on construction waste can also keep costs down and help the home qualify for LEED certification, a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement from the U.S. Green Building Council. Check out these tips from pros who are successfully minimizing construction waste, and please add your own to the Comments.
2. Hire the Right Waste Haulers
Minimizing construction waste can help the building earn LEED points, which help it qualify for different levels of LEED certification. But careful planning, hiring and documentation are required. “Require the contractor to implement a waste-management plan, and use a waste hauler who can divert at least 75% of waste from the landfill,” Horowitz says. The waste will need to be measured consistently by either weight or volume. Ask for a copy of the hauler’s report after demolition or at the end of the project. Recycling/salvaging at least 50% of waste earns 1 LEED point, 75% or more earns 2. (Excavated soil and land-clearing debris do not contribute to this credit.)
Minimizing construction waste can help the building earn LEED points, which help it qualify for different levels of LEED certification. But careful planning, hiring and documentation are required. “Require the contractor to implement a waste-management plan, and use a waste hauler who can divert at least 75% of waste from the landfill,” Horowitz says. The waste will need to be measured consistently by either weight or volume. Ask for a copy of the hauler’s report after demolition or at the end of the project. Recycling/salvaging at least 50% of waste earns 1 LEED point, 75% or more earns 2. (Excavated soil and land-clearing debris do not contribute to this credit.)
3. Make Use of Leftovers
Sean Sullivan, owner of Living Stone Design + Build, hates to see scraps land in the dumpster. So he does his best to reuse them in creative ways instead. Here he used leftover siding pieces to craft a headboard.
Sean Sullivan, owner of Living Stone Design + Build, hates to see scraps land in the dumpster. So he does his best to reuse them in creative ways instead. Here he used leftover siding pieces to craft a headboard.
And Sullivan uses trim scraps to create 3D accents. Here he stacked them in a pleasing composition on the sides of the island to add texture to the room. And he used them to cover a bedroom accent wall in the same house.
When renovating, Sullivan salvages all of the architectural elements and materials he can. Even if he can’t reuse them on that renovation, he knows he’ll find a good use for them on a future project.
When renovating, Sullivan salvages all of the architectural elements and materials he can. Even if he can’t reuse them on that renovation, he knows he’ll find a good use for them on a future project.
4. Repurpose and Recycle
When renovating, take a good inventory of what will be salvageable before demolition begins. “We try our best to cut down on construction waste,” says Laurie Robbins of Potter Construction. “We donate demolished items to a local building materials and salvage store, primarily items such as cabinets and countertops that are removed during demolition.”
Cabinets, countertops and appliances. Bob Gockeler of KraftMaster Renovations finds that kitchen items are the most in-demand and easiest to unload. He gives members of the crew, friends and family first dibs on functional items like cabinets, countertops and functioning appliances. He notes that repurposed cabinets and countertops are popular for workshops and extra storage in garages, basements and sheds.
If no one they know scoops them up on the spot, his company donates these items to organizations like ReStore, part of Habitat for Humanity, or Renovation Angel, a recycler of luxury pre-owned kitchens and renovation items. They also post items that their clients want to resell or give away on message boards. “Refrigerators almost always find a home in a garage for overflow beverages,” he says. “And dishwashers are also in demand.”
How to donate or recycle home remodeling materials
When renovating, take a good inventory of what will be salvageable before demolition begins. “We try our best to cut down on construction waste,” says Laurie Robbins of Potter Construction. “We donate demolished items to a local building materials and salvage store, primarily items such as cabinets and countertops that are removed during demolition.”
Cabinets, countertops and appliances. Bob Gockeler of KraftMaster Renovations finds that kitchen items are the most in-demand and easiest to unload. He gives members of the crew, friends and family first dibs on functional items like cabinets, countertops and functioning appliances. He notes that repurposed cabinets and countertops are popular for workshops and extra storage in garages, basements and sheds.
If no one they know scoops them up on the spot, his company donates these items to organizations like ReStore, part of Habitat for Humanity, or Renovation Angel, a recycler of luxury pre-owned kitchens and renovation items. They also post items that their clients want to resell or give away on message boards. “Refrigerators almost always find a home in a garage for overflow beverages,” he says. “And dishwashers are also in demand.”
How to donate or recycle home remodeling materials
Wood. Smaller pieces of reclaimed wood from your current renovation job or past jobs can be repurposed on smaller shelves or small sections of paneling.
Wiring and Pipes. Gockeler strips old wiring and pipes that are copper, galvanized steel or cast iron and sells them to a scrap metal yard. The bonus beyond keeping these metals out of the landfill and reducing pollution from ore mining is that these metals are worth a significant amount of money. And copper pipes are always stunning when creatively repurposed on a project too, like this beautifully patinaed handrail.
Radiators. Gockeler sends old radiators to a plumbing supply house to be refurbished, while those in bad shape are sold as scrap metal. Recycling logistics can take extra time they don’t always have, so he has a backup plan. “If we are too busy we set these items aside and we have some local contacts that will pick up all of the metal and recycle it,” he says.
Cardboard and Paper. The large amount of packaging that goes with new materials can produce a lot of dumpster filler if you aren’t conscientious about it. “When we are putting the project back together there is a tremendous amount of paper goods from all the deliveries,” Gockeler says. His company recycles all of the cardboard and paper from packaging. Some suppliers will let you return their packaging to them for reuse, and many local packaging stores appreciate used bubble wrap and other packing materials.
Radiators. Gockeler sends old radiators to a plumbing supply house to be refurbished, while those in bad shape are sold as scrap metal. Recycling logistics can take extra time they don’t always have, so he has a backup plan. “If we are too busy we set these items aside and we have some local contacts that will pick up all of the metal and recycle it,” he says.
Cardboard and Paper. The large amount of packaging that goes with new materials can produce a lot of dumpster filler if you aren’t conscientious about it. “When we are putting the project back together there is a tremendous amount of paper goods from all the deliveries,” Gockeler says. His company recycles all of the cardboard and paper from packaging. Some suppliers will let you return their packaging to them for reuse, and many local packaging stores appreciate used bubble wrap and other packing materials.
Cabinet wood. When cabinets can’t be repurposed or donated, the doors can be used for other things. For example, Gockeler crafts birdhouses from used cabinet wood. “The wood can all be repurposed, as it’s typically great hardwood,” he says.
He also passes along cabinet doors to two of his artist cousins. This painting is by one of them, Artie Forder. Note the way the frame around the door panel serves as the painting’s frame.
He also passes along cabinet doors to two of his artist cousins. This painting is by one of them, Artie Forder. Note the way the frame around the door panel serves as the painting’s frame.
Concrete. “Concrete debris gets recycled and is ground up to use as fill via a concrete recycling center,” Robbins says. And according to the EPA’s website regarding sustainable management of construction and demolition materials, “brick, concrete and masonry can be recycled on site as fill, sub-base material or driveway bedding.”
Drywall. Also according to the EPA’s website, “de-papered and crushed gypsum can be used, in moderate quantities, as a soil amendment.”
Porcelain. Check with local city waste management about porcelain recycling centers. (Some will have convenient curbside pickup you can schedule.) And if not, a quick web search will likely turn up a porcelain recycling center that will crush up old porcelain fixtures like toilets and use the porcelain as a component in concrete for road, sidewalk and path construction.
Pay It Forward: Choose Materials With Recycled Content
While choosing materials with recycled content technically will not cut down on the construction waste your current job site will generate, it helps the big picture. There will need to be demand for the materials you’re sending off for recycling on this job. So be part of the demand for someone else’s past recycling efforts. Think of it as paying things forward. Also, using materials with recycled content can also earn LEED points. There are many wonderful products that include recycled content available today. The number of options continues to increase, and more clients are eco-conscious and searching for these kinds of materials than ever before.
Case in point: the tiles in this photo are composed of recycled glass. In addition to tile made with recycled content, consider other eco-friendly materials like insulation made from recycled denim or countertops made from recycled paper or recycled glass.
While choosing materials with recycled content technically will not cut down on the construction waste your current job site will generate, it helps the big picture. There will need to be demand for the materials you’re sending off for recycling on this job. So be part of the demand for someone else’s past recycling efforts. Think of it as paying things forward. Also, using materials with recycled content can also earn LEED points. There are many wonderful products that include recycled content available today. The number of options continues to increase, and more clients are eco-conscious and searching for these kinds of materials than ever before.
Case in point: the tiles in this photo are composed of recycled glass. In addition to tile made with recycled content, consider other eco-friendly materials like insulation made from recycled denim or countertops made from recycled paper or recycled glass.
In this house the pros at NB Design Group and DeForest Architects specified end-grain flooring. This product is composed of blocks salvaged from timber ends. The result is an intricately patterned, very durable flooring with a warm, natural look.
Your turn: Please tell us about your strategies for minimizing construction waste, your favorite materials with recycled content and ways you successfully salvaged or repurposed items in the Comments.
More on Houzz
The Future of Smart Design: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle
Read more green building articles
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Your turn: Please tell us about your strategies for minimizing construction waste, your favorite materials with recycled content and ways you successfully salvaged or repurposed items in the Comments.
More on Houzz
The Future of Smart Design: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle
Read more green building articles
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Part of minimizing construction waste begins with careful planning long before the dumpster is dropped off onsite. This begins with sizing a home appropriately. “Right-size rather than oversize — this is the most influential way to reduce construction materials,” says architect Stephanie Horowitz of ZeroEnergy Design. Getting familiar with Not-So-Big House principles like multifunctional and versatile rooms is a good way to learn about right-sizing.
Horowitz also recommends designing in a way that will minimize the leftovers. “Design the home with standard material sizes and spacing in mind. Designing on a 16-inch or 24-inch grid will optimize stud, joist and rafter framing,” she says. This will also cut down on costs — the less excess left over, the less money wasted.
Speaking of waste not, want not, the architect also recommends encouraging careful storage of materials on the job site. This will minimize damage from ground contact, water and handling.