By: Melody Eve Ramos
The production of material waste is an unavoidable and persistent issue in the construction industry. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that total waste from construction-related projects was double that of municipal waste from households and businesses in 2018. There isn’t a universal solution yet, but many construction firms are finding inventive solutions to waste reduction, such as smart waste management, adaptive reuse, and recycling.
WHAT IS SMART WASTE MANAGEMENT?
Smart waste management refers to any system that uses technology to make trash
collection more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. Most of these
systems are equipped with monitoring technology that collects and tracks real-time
data, to help optimize waste collection and spur future innovation.
Some examples of smart waste management tools are:
ADAPTIVE REUSE:
Adaptive reuse is a trend that transforms structures no longer in use into something new. Benefits of adaptive reuse are:
While adaptive reuse is not always the perfect solution, it frequently offers a sustainable alternative to new construction.
RECYCLING:
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), roughly 75% of the waste stream in the United States is recyclable, but only about 30% of recyclable materials actually get recycled. Waste will always be a part of the construction industry; it cannot be avoided, but proper recycling can help to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Having a recycle bin for workers to toss materials will help to reduce the waste that your
team creates.
The following items, often used in construction, can be recycled:
● Metal
● Cardboard
● Paper
● Plastics
● Untreated wood
● Concrete
● Gravel
● Window glass
● Carpeting
● Drywall
● Asphalt
● Brick
● Roofing
Minimizing construction waste is a lofty pursuit but with advances in technology and dedication from those in the industry, it is achievable.
https://www.bigrentz.com/blog/construction-waste-statistics
https://www.unitedrentals.com/project-uptime/expertise/8-ways-reduce-construction-waste
https://dumpsters.com/blog/how-to-reduce-waste-on-construction-site
https://www.bigrentz.com/blog/smart-waste-management
https://www.bigrentz.com/blog/adaptive-reuse
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