Construction and demolition (C&D) materials consist of the debris generated during the construction, renovation, and demolition of buildings, roads, and bridges. C&D materials often contain bulky, heavy materials, such as concrete, wood, metals, glass, and salvaged building components.
Reducing and recycling C&D materials conserves landfill space, reduces the environmental impact of producing new materials, creates jobs, and can reduce overall building project expenses through avoided purchase/disposal costs. This section provides information on EPA's efforts and other opportunities to reduce C&D materials, including:
- EPA Goals and Programs - describes EPA's strategy for C&D materials and specific parternships and programs, such as the Construction Initiative, EPA's public-private collaboration to reuse industrial wastes and materials.
- C&D Research/Funding - provides links to organizations conducting research on, or providing grants for, C&D materials reuse and recycling.
- Green Building - explains EPA's Green Building efforts and the Lifecycle Building Challenge.
- Disaster Debris - provides guidance on deconstruction, reuse, recycling and overall management of disaster debris.
- Reducing C&D Materials
- What You Can Do - gives practical advice on reducing and preventing C&D materials when planning a construction/remodeling project;
- describes a wide range of C&D materials reduction techniques, such as reduce, reuse, recycle, and rebuy;
- provides resources by material type.
- Resources - lists success stories, recent publications, case studies, and factsheets.