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Building Challenge
The WasteWise Building Challenge encourages Partners to reduce, reuse, and recycle construction and demolition (C&D) debris.
Sustainable, or "green," building is gaining momentum as organizations recognize a tremendous opportunity to prevent waste, recover materials, and conserve resources. Sustainable building projects – including renovation and new construction – incorporate energy, water, and material efficiencies into design, construction, operation, and demolition.
Since 2002, 23 WasteWise Partners have pledged to reduce, reuse, and recycle C&D debris. At the 2003 Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony, WasteWise recognized Genzyme Corporation, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and Seattle University for their efforts towards the Building Challenge.
Reducing Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris
Reducing, reusing, and recycling C&D debris can cut overall project expenses by:
- Avoiding disposal and purchasing costs;
- Generating revenue from the sale of materials; and
- Creating opportunities for tax breaks through material donations.
Other benefits include conserving landfill space, avoiding the environmental effects of manufacturing new building products, and enhancing your organization's public image.
Purchasing recycled building products can help improve markets for recyclables, enhance your public image, and help Federal agencies meet the Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines mandates.
Steps to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle C&D Debris
- Incorporate environmental specifications into your building contracts and guidelines.
- Develop standard operating procedures for C&D reuse and recycling at your construction site.
- Rehabilitate an existing structure in place of planned demolition.
- Use deconstruction techniques rather than demolition if a building must be torn down.
- Employ efficient framing to reduce the amount of lumber used without sacrificing structural integrity.
- Invest in durable products to ensure that materials last as long as possible.
- Return unused construction material to vendors.
- Consider the end-of-life management, or recyclability, of building products at the start of a project.
- Salvage C&D waste for sale and reuse.
- Purchase recycled-content building materials including insulation, carpet, cement, paint, floor tiles, shower and restroom dividers, laminated paperboard, and structural fiberboard.
C&D Debris Reduction Resources
- Visit the Building Challenge resources page for Web sites, publications, articles, and trade associations.
- Review the WasteWise Update: Building for the Future (PDF) (16 pp, 2.2MB, about PDF).
Join the Building Challenge
Contact the WasteWise Helpline at (800) EPA-WISE (372-9473) to join.