What is construction and demolition debris management?
Construction and demolition debris includes the nonhazardous, uncontaminated materials that result from construction, remodeling, repair, or demolition of structures and roads. Construction and demolition (C&D) debris management is the recycling and reusing of such debris so that it can be utilized in later construction processes. C&D management is a practice that reduces the amount of debris used, recycles leftover materials, and practices using materials that have recycled-content.
Materials that can be reduced and recycled are:
- scrap lumber - reused for landscaping, compost, boiler fuel or engineered building products
- metals - includes aluminum, copper, steel, brass and can be sold to scrap metal yards
- cardboard - can be kept separate from other building products in cardboard-only bins so that a recycling firm can pick them up
- gypsum wallboard - can be ground up to be used as a soil amendment or substitute for lime (approval from the Solid Waste Section of the N.C. Division of Solid Waste Management is necessary)
- rubble - (includes concrete, brick, cinder block and certain types of tile) can be crushed and sieved for use as an aggregate
- glass - can be recycled into fiberglass or used in place of sand in paving material
- asphalt shingles - can be used in asphalt paving and repair of potholes Additional C&D materials that can be managed for reuse include:
- soil
- rock
- wall coverings
- plaster
- plumbing fixtures
- plastics that do not conceal waste
- electrical wiring
- piping
