Metro Nashville is a popular place to live, work, and do business. Because of this, approximately 38% of the waste we send to landfill is construction and demolition materials, including wood, metal, concrete, asphalt, brick, and other valuable building components. When recycled or reused, these building materials can be used in new spaces or as raw material. When landfilled, this material can create greenhouse gases and have other negative environmental and social impacts. Reducing construction and demolition waste is one of three focus areas of Metro Nashville’s Zero Waste Master Plan, which aims to reduce the waste we send to landfill by 90% over the next 30 years. We can significantly reduce the amount of construction and demolition waste we send to landfill through Redesign, Reuse, Deconstruction, Recycling, and Downcycling.
Construction and Demolition Zero Waste Hierarchy
There are many ways to reduce the amount of construction and demolition material that goes to landfill. The Zero Waste Hierarchy provides strategies for how you can reduce construction and demolition waste based on what is most environmentally preferred. As you move up the pyramid, each strategy does more to conserve our natural resources, prevent pollution, and save energy.
- Design your project to not create waste in the first place, such as using prefab construction or right-fitting materials.
- Reuse existing buildings rather than demolishing and building new.
- Deconstruct buildings piece by piece so valuable construction and demolition materials can be reused.
- Recycle construction and demolition debris such as concrete, metal, wood, and cardboard. See if you can reuse recycled material on site, such as crushed concrete.
- Downcycle construction and demolition debris for applications such as road base construction, stormwater control, or gasification.
- Landfill should only be considered if there is not a higher and better use for the waste material. Practice proper disposal methods to prevent litter on the jobsite.
To learn how to incorporate these ideas on your next construction or demolition project, download our complete Construction and Demolition Recycling Guide for Commercial Projects and check out the resources below.
Design for Less Waste
Design your project not to create waste in the first place. Does the building owner have furniture from their previous tenant that you can use? Are there opportunities to “do more with less”?
Reuse Existing Buildings
It has been said that “the greenest building is the one that is already built.” Can you adapt a building that already exists for a new use that meets the needs of your project?
Deconstruct Buildings
Deconstruction is the manual taking apart of a building to reuse its parts. Can certain materials have additional "life" beyond their first use?
Recycle Construction and Demolition Debris
Recycling refers to using waste material as raw material for new products. Do your excess materials have a valuable end market?
Practice Proper Disposal
Practice proper disposal methods to prevent litter on the jobsite and safely identify hazardous materials.
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