INTRODUCTION

Dealing with construction and demolition waste is one of the most formidable
challenges we face in the construction industry. It is becoming a serious
environmental problem in many countries in the world. Construction and demolition
(C and D) debris frequently makes up 10-30% of the waste receive at many landfill
sites around the world Disposal costs are high, resources are being needlessly
wasted, and we are running out of landfill space.

C&D Waste: An Overview

C&D waste can be divided into a number of categories: waste left over from new
construction (new material scraps, packaging, etc.), demolition waste from older
buildings (old wood, insulation, plaster, brick, fixtures, appliances, etc.), and debris
from large civil works projects such as highways and bridges.
Traditionally, a lot of C&D waste has never left the job-site, being buried or burned
instead. Burning is no longer an option in most communities. Even if permitted, it is
a poor choice environmentally, both wasting resources and polluting the air. Burying
certain types of C&D waste is an option, but only for limited materials. Even more
disturbing than on-site burning is the illegal dumping that we have increasingly seen
as landfill disposal costs have risen. Much of our C&D waste goes into conventional
landfills—particularly C&D waste from residential construction. The future of
municipal landfills, as has been widely publicized, does not look good. Already, many
landfills have stopped accepting bulky C&D waste, or they have greatly increased
disposal cost in an effort to keep it out. In some areas, mixed waste is now handled
by material recovery facilities or transfer stations where they are sorted. Recoverable
materials are separated out for recycling before the rest is landfilled.
The conventional wisdom with C&D landfills has been that this kind of waste—
mostly inert materials such as wood, concrete, cardboard packaging. They do not
require as diligent environmental safeguards as standard solid waste. Increasingly,
however, this argument is being challenged. Not only are many construction
materials significant pollution sources (paints, solvents, and pressure-treated wood
scraps, for example), but the more negligent standards at C&D landfills have resulted
in other, more hazardous, substances being dumped there illegally to avoid higher
costs of hazardous waste landfills. As a result, C&D landfills may soon be required to
have more stringent environmental safeguards.
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