The construction industry in Pakistan is looking for ways to reduce its impact on the environment, as governments and local businesses have started giving priority to environmental sustainability. Construction waste itself causes significant damage, as it accounts for about one-third of all garbage in the country. The reuse of building materials can significantly reduce the harmful impact on our environment.
Traditionally, construction waste has been dumped in landfills. However, this has a negative impact on the environment and creates negative externalities like polluting groundwater and surrounding areas. Construction companies and developers are learning the ways to re-engineer the entire waste management process for the construction industry, recycling waste material from the construction industry is the utmost beneficial solution so far.
Recycling building materials has two main environmental benefits:
- Energy Saving: Recycling can save a lot of energy, and all in all reduces the use of natural resources to produce new products. Interesting fact, if all the concrete waste in Pakistan were reused, it would have saved energy equivalent to billions of gallons of fuel. Used building waste can be reused as it can be modified according to the need.
- Recycling construction waste eliminates the need to send waste to landfills. Processing hazardous waste effectively reduces toxic eruption in the environment.
Recycling building materials have the following Economic Benefits:
- Cost Saving: Reusing construction materials reduce waste and transportation costs.
The cost to transport the industrial waste to landfills costs way more than recycle a single lot of construction waste. Recycling reduces the requirement for new resources, which effectively reduces travel and production costs.
- ESR Certification: Construction Companies are required to be ISO certified for safety and security purposes as well as Environmental Sustainability Responsibility is also a mandatory trait to have in the company. ESR certification uplifts the company not just domestically but also raises its credibility to an international level.
Type of Reusable and Recyclable Construction Wastes:
The best way to recycling is to use waste for new projects, and many recycling materials can there are many recycling materials that can be reused. The following are some examples:
- Concrete
- Instruments
- Asphalt
- Wood
- Glass
- Paper
- Gypsum
- Stones
Other Equipment
- Windows and Doors
- Plastics
How to Reuse the Construction Waste:
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Plan and Precautions
Just like every other project, re-use of construction materials should be carefully planned before starting. Organizations such as PHA and NESPAK in Pakistan can help you in making a blueprint for recycling wastage while ensuring that it regulates with local laws.
- Rules for Re-use
Understanding the local land rules is necessary before starting any project. Municipal or LDA Lahore solid waste departments can provide the required information, including the use of sites and also recycling guidelines. When designing a new building, always use highly calculated materials so that the wastage afterward can be reduced, while saving time and labor.
- Local Recycling Centers
Recycling Centers can help you get rid of construction waste if your construction company has its own recycling unit. But if the recycling center is still far from your project, consider alternatives like outsourcing the wastage transportation to the center.
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Reconstruction using Waste
Another way to reduce construction waste is by reconstruction. There are some organizations that separate building materials and reuse them in social housing projects for slums and homeless people.
Reusing building materials provides an opportunity to achieve cost savings. These savings include the cost of new items, as well as transportation and the cost of disposing of that waste which could create negative externalities. The use of recycled materials also results in energy-saving and less CO2 emission. Reconstruction from constructed waste is a practice that is gaining popularity and many countries have started this planet-saving initiative already, Pakistan should also focus on these activities to support a healthy environment an