Most of us associate recycling with placing plastic containers and aluminium cans in the blue bin. But have you ever considered using recycled materials for construction in your own home? If you’re planning a major renovation or construction project, there are numerous options to reduce, reuse, and recycle, which helps keep building materials out of landfills while also lowering your building expenses and gives boost to construction materials recycling.
Introduction to Reuse and Recycle
Recycle
Recycling is the process of changing the waste resources into innovative goods and objects. The recycling of waste-to-energy resources is commonly included in this concept. Recycled materials for construction refers to a substance’s ability to recover the properties it had in its original state and to be Eco-Friendly as well. As a result, it’s a more eco-friendly alternative to “conventional” waste disposal, saving resources and lowering greenhouse gas emissions by using building waste materials. It can also minimise energy usage, air pollution (due to burning), and water contamination by reducing the waste of highly lucrative products and the use of salvage building materials (from landfill).
Reuse
The activity or practice to reuse construction materials, whether it is for its original purpose (conventional reuse) or a different purpose (adaptive reuse), is known as reuse (creative reuse or repurposing). It should be differentiated from recycling, which entails the dismantling of used objects in order to obtain raw materials for the production of new ones.
Why to Use Recycled Materials For Construction?
There are several reasons which can help humans and nature, both if we practice recycling and reuse of scrap building materials in construction our non-usable or waste materials which just get dumped in landfills. Some reasons to reuse construction materials.
- Due to recycling building materials and reused construction materials, we can stop our landfills from getting filled up with goods and materials.
- It advances the source reduction process.
- Advances in green technology.
- Gives less hazardous waste in return
- Reduces the need for large landfills.
- Generates more business and employment opportunities.
- Safeguards wildlife and reduces strain on natural resources.
- By reusing old tiles, recycled concrete, cement we can reduce lots of cost which could occur if we purchase them new.
Why Reusable Building Materials?
There are several benefits of using recycled materials for construction. It reduces the demand for new resources, cuts the cost of production and transportation of new materials, eliminates landfill wastes and makes them eco-friendly. When we recycle construction materials we also care for our environment.
01. Eco-Friendly
According to Abdol R. Chini & Stuart F. Bruening (Author of Deconstruction and materials reuse in the United States), the reuse of building components reduces the demand for newly manufactured materials. Because recyclable construction materials needs limited resources, less energy, and less labour than recycling, disposal, or creating new items from virgin materials, many reuse construction materials projects have emerged from local solid reducing waste goals. Because it lowers air, water, and land pollution and limits this need for new natural resources such as timber, gasoline, fibres, and other materials, reuse is a fantastic, eco-friendly desirable option to conventional waste management methods.
02. Benefits to the Community
For many years, recycling has been a crucial method of distributing needed resources to the world’s many impoverished people. Recycling and reuse of building waste in construction continues to be a great way to get people the food, clothes, building materials, office equipment, medical supplies, and other necessities they require. However, there are also ways in which reused building materials benefits the public. For example, many building waste material centres run career training programs, disabled programs, and at-risk youth programs.
03. Economic
There are fewer economic costs when reused resources rather than developing new items from virgin materials. In addition, recycled materials for construction is a cost-effective solution for people from all socioeconomic backgrounds to obtain the products they require and effectively pursue reusable construction materials.
Benefits of Using Recycled Materials to Build a House
How to make a house using recycled materials? Let’s look deep into this and understand. According to Eva Krídlová Burdová & Silvia Vilčeková (Authors of Environmental Assessment of Building Materials and Constructions), a Green economy is a resource-use pattern that attempts to meet human needs while maintaining the environment so that these needs can be addressed not just now but in the future as well. Many construction companies are looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly. The innovative recycled building materials has a significant environmental impact because of resource inefficiency, high carbon emissions, and inadequate waste management. Recycled materials building projects are a simple approach to making construction projects more eco-friendly. They will not only minimize your energy consumption, waste, and pollution, but they will also save you money. Ahead we will see ways to use recycled materials for construction and benefits of using recycled materials in construction.
10 Ways of Recycling and Reuse of Building Waste in Construction
Recycling and reuse of building waste in construction include wood, rigid polymers, metal, cement. Before they may be utilized for something else, these materials may need to be melted down (plastics), refurbished (wood), or cut apart (reusing old tiles). However, homeowners should be aware of any items that have been handled with chemicals that could seep into the soil or have an impact on air quality. Chemicals present on aged materials can reduce their usefulness. Some treated used construction materials may need to be discarded until they’ve been used for something other than inside the home.
01. Light Fixtures
Light fixtures have a natural ability to age gracefully. It is a popular one in the list of repurposed construction materials. They can frequently be reused in other areas of the house or in a different home as-is. Some fittings may be candidates for recycling or metal scrapping based on the substance utilized or composition. Homeowners who do not want to keep their old light fittings can usually sell them or donate them to charity. Homeowners must inspect an outdated light fixture before using it to make sure it is safe. Wiring that is exposed or damaged, as well as broken pieces, can prevent a light fitting from being used in another location when used as recycled construction materials. Let’s see more of what is building a house with reclaimed materials and reclaimed materials examples.
02. Doors and Windows
For millennia, doors and windows have signaled our arrivals and departures, kept out invaders, and kept out storms. With raised wood panels, arched tops, and leaded-glass insets, they’ve also created a beautiful focal point, whether indoors or out. When we recycle or make a new house or apartment, we can use the old doors and windows which are made from high-quality wood and other materials. Nowadays the expense of buying a new doors and windows is a headache. So by using our old windows and doors, we can customize many things in our house like plant station, dining table, chairs and windowed walls.
03. Tiles
Frequently, the need to reuse the ceramic tiles arises when you’re doing minor repairs or modifications in your bathroom or kitchen and can’t find a good enough match, or you only need to replace or reuse one tile. We can also reuse our flooring tiles to decorate some parts of our house with different patterns. It can also be used to make a pavement way outside the house, which can be used for walk or driving purposes. When reusing ceramic tiles, make sure they’re as clean as possible so you can reinstall them on the wall. By soaking the current tiles in a large bucket of water, the water interacts with the adhesive, allowing you to simply remove the adhesive from the back of the tiles after around 24 hours. A wallpaper scraper or similar equipment can be used to remove glue from ceramic tiles.
04. Home Appliances
The average home appliance has a service life of 10 to 20 years. Machines will break down more frequently as time goes on, necessitating continual maintenance. As a result, repurposing obsolete appliances is limited. If old home appliances are still in good shape and are being reuse and recycle as part of a redesign, homeowners should consider donating them to charity. Many nonprofit organizations will accept outdated, functional appliances from homeowners. Appliances that are no longer functional can be dismantled and their components reused independently. The metal in these appliances is usually the most precious part. Recycled plastic building materials are a must watch too.
05. Roofing Materials
The removal of an old roof and the installation of a new roof might result in a significant amount of garbage. Some of the trash, such as sheathing, can’t be reused, but some forms of paper-based cladding can be reused if taken to the right place. Asphalt tiles, for example, can be upcycled in a variety of ways (e.g. a dog house or shed roof if the tiles are in good condition). Asphalt tiles have a 20-year average lifespan, while some varieties of asphalt can last up to 30 years. To lessen the demand for fresh asphalt manufacture, recycled asphalt tiles are frequently used in pavement. Some roofing materials, such as slate, can also be used for purposes as well. Slate tile is a form of natural stone that, if properly cared for, can last for hundreds of years. A good slate tile floor can be used in a kitchen, bathroom, or even outside.
06. Plumbing Fixtures
Faucets, toilets, and bathtubs are examples of plumbing fixtures (examples of recycled materials in construction) that can last for decades. Antique fixtures such as claw-foot baths are in high demand (though difficult to transport) and will be eagerly claimed by home owners looking for unique pieces for their homes. Because older toilets frequently waste water and are not ecologically friendly, reuse may not be an option. However, some locations do offer toilet recycling centres. Others may discover upcycling ideas in the garden. Before determining whether to reuse or donate their old plumbing fittings, homeowners should inspect them for the presence of lead or old plastic.
07. Flooring Materials
As long as the pieces are in good shape, traditional flooring materials like wood, tiles and cement can be reused. Wood that has been damaged should be removed. Outdoor paths and landscaping might benefit from cracked or damaged tiles. At recycling facilities, recycled materials such as laminate and bamboo can be purchased. Carpet cannot usually be recycled due to its porous nature; however, it can be repurposed as padding, area rugs, and mats. Also checkout
08. Wires
Copper is a versatile material that can be recycled and reused in a variety of ways. Copper is so easily recycled that it’s possible that old copper is worth as much as 95% of newly mined copper. Copper wiring can be sold or donated to a processing centre, where it will be converted into something usable and resold.
09. Bricks
Bricks are environmental friendly throughout their life cycle, and they can always be reused if they are in good shape. Cleaning the old brick out of the mortar is all that is required to reuse bricks. This is a time-consuming technique that also uses a lot of water. Old bricks can be chemically treated to remove them from old mortar in some circumstances. However, this isn’t an environmentally favourable technique either. Thankfully, there are methods available now that clean old masonry using vibration-based equipment. Even if a small quantity of cleaning is required, it will save a significant amount of resources. Depending on the type of natural degradation that old bricks have undergone, they can be as good as new bricks when cleaned.
10. Concrete
According to William A Yrjanson (1989), Recycling Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavement and reusing the aggregates for the construction of pavements or their structural elements has developed into a cost-effective rehabilitation option. Several developments in the past ten years have made recycling more economical for all types of Portland cement concrete pavements. Demolition of concrete foundations, walkways, driveways, and other concrete buildings is common in the early stages of many construction projects, leaving a contractor with a large volume of heavy, rigid materials to deal with. Concrete, fortunately, can be recycled and reused in a variety of ways. Crushing or pulverizing concrete rubble near the destruction or construction site is usually (but not always) part of the procedure. The size and shape of the cement pieces to be recycled have a role in determining the optimal procedure. Reusing concrete is an excellent strategy to save money on construction while also helping the environment. Recycled concrete not only keeps waste out of landfills but also eliminates the need to mine and transport other minerals like gravel.
Some Popular Examples of Recycled Materials in Construction
Internationally there are many such buildings and homes which are made using old home materials like doors, windows, glass bottles, containers, plumbing sets etc which shows us how to make a building out of recycled materials. Some examples of them are.
01. Cabana Floripa – Florianopolis, Brazil
This tree house is located on the Brazilian island, which is in Santa Catarina. According to the locals, this house was made of pieces of different deconstructed homes, Bottles of glass, wooden painted beams, and tiles as construction materials.
02. Collage house – Mumbai, India
This home’s facade is made from the doors and windows of other deconstructed buildings and homes. It is located in Mumbai, India. There are many recycled materials used in this home that are more than 100 years old, like stone columns, old flooring, wood, fabric, cut stones. It contains five bedrooms with bathrooms, staff rooms, below the earth rainwater tank, a Pavillion on the roof and a garden too.
03. Recycled Materials Cottage – Panguipulli, Chile
This modern lakeside villa was constructed using salvaged materials from existing homes and structures. For the cottage’s façade, architect Juan Luis Martnez Nahuel repurposed glazing doors from a 1960s patio and parquet flooring from a 1970s house. A temporary exhibition had previously employed laminated and steel beams for the house’s construction. There are two bedrooms, one bathroom, and an open living area in the cottage. All of the rooms in the house have access to a covered walkway that traverses the length of the structure.
Summary
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Buildings that are designed to support adaptation, disassembly, and reuse decrease waste and extend their useful lives, resulting in economic and environmental benefits for builders, owners, and tenants, as well as communities. Recycled materials for construction are part of a larger drive toward a more sustainable future. Building waste management approaches that rely on material salvage, recycling, and reuse have been shown to be cost-effective for the construction sector. There are still additional opportunities to plan construction with the least amount of waste and to increase building energy efficiency.
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