After any sort of demolition, whether it’s a towering skyscraper or a residential bathroom, recycling previously used materials in a new project is always an ideal method to create a more sustainable structure while decreasing excess waste.
Yet in Honolulu, things are getting serious. A bill is moving through the city council that, according to a blog posted by Good magazine, “would require builders to reuse or recycle a full 60 percent of construction and demolition waste.”
Targeted materials include concrete, rock, brick, wood, masonry, roofing, plaster, steel and others.
The bill is a way for city officials to help control construction materials waste, which, according to the Good blog, “accounts for 25 to 30 percent of solid waste in the United States, and only 20 to 30 percent of it is recycled or reused.”
And in Honolulu, the situation is more dire, as landfills are in danger of hitting capacity.
If you find yourself with an excess of construction materials and no plans to use them in any project, you can also consider a donation as opposed to throwing them away.
Have you recycled construction materials for other projects? If so, share your experience — or any tips — with us!
Photo by smaedli
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