Save Useful Materials from the Landfill

The EPA estimated that around opens in a new window600 million tons of construction and demolition materials were thrown away in the U.S. in 2018. These discarded materials come from building demolitions and renovations and their total weight is opens in a new windowmore than double that of all other yearly U.S. municipal solid waste. A great way to divert this waste from landfills and give salvageable materials a second life is through deconstruction.

Deconstruction is the process of taking a building apart, piece by piece, and salvaging appliances and materials instead of demolishing it. Up to opens in a new window70% of materials can be recycledopens pdf file, and up to opens in a new window25% of materials can be reusedopens pdf file in a home deconstruction. This can be done in two ways: a soft strip or a full deconstruction.

Benefits of Deconstruction:

Deconstruction is a cost competitive alternative to conventional building demolition. By reusing building materials, many environmental and social benefits can be realized, including: 

• Reducing the consumption of new resources
• Creating value-added market from waste materials
• Minimizing landfill waste and pollution
• Expanding job opportunities and workforce development skills

Helpful Resources:

• opens in a new windowEcoBuilding Bargains
• opens in a new windowDeconstruction in Connecticut: How to Startopens pdf file
• opens in a new windowPromoting the Practice of Deconstructionopens pdf file
• opens in a new windowDeconstructing Deconstruction blog
• Webinar: Deconstruction for Contractors
• Dismantling Buildings for Reuse in CTopens pdf file

Spread the word about deconstruction! Share these graphics to your social media pages.

RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts

opens in a new windowRecyclingWorks in Massachusetts is a recycling assistance program is designed to help businesses and institutions maximize recycling, reuse, and composting opportunities.

The Center for EcoTechnology has partnered with MassDEP to administer this program and the following services:

• Why it’s important to opens in a new windowrecycle construction and demolition materials
• Current information on the opens in a new windowMassachusetts Waste Bans
• Information about the most commonopens in a new window recyclable and compostable materials
• Information about the importance of opens in a new windowreusing and opens in a new windowbuying recycled materials
• opens in a new windowEvents and workshops for education and to connect with others in your community

CONTACT US about RecyclingWorks MA:
Call: (888) 254-5525opens phone dialer   Email:  info@recyclingworksma.com