Construction and demolition (C&D) materials represent the debris from the demolition, construction, or renovation of buildings, bridges, or even roads. C&D materials are normally heavy materials such as concrete, wood, asphalt, gypsum, bricks, glass, some types of plastic, salvaged building components, metals and trees, among other materials.
In the United States, C&D materials constitute a large percentage of waste, much of which can be transformed into new productive products. According to a report entitled ‘Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2014 Fact Sheet’ (http://dtn.fm/HiA4r), over 500 million tons of C&D debris were generated in 2014, with concrete making up 70% of it, asphalt 14%, wood more than 7%, and other products making up approximately 9% between them.
All the materials outlined above can either be reduced, salvaged, recycled, or reused by simply preserving existing buildings rather than constructing new ones, designing new buildings that can be adapted to make them last longer, establishing construction methods that allow for the disassembly and reuse of materials, using different framing techniques, and reducing the various types of interior finishes.
In addition, steps are being taken by companies such as National Waste Management Holdings, Inc. (OTC: NWMH) to reduce the impact C&D has on the environment. NWMH is a solid waste management company located in Central Florida.
The company is focused on operating according to an eco-friendly business model that has been put in place to combat unnecessary waste in Florida and New York. To pursue its mission of being environmentally conscience with a focus on sustainability, NWMH is committed to inspecting all loads and sorting all the materials that arrive in its landfills in order to accept only those that are compliant with the C&D Department of Environmental Protection standards.
In addition to the company’s high level of compliance with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), National Waste Management plans on using its picking station to aid the state of Florida in its quest to meet its mandate for 75% recycling by the end of 2020. This incentive will give the company the ability to increase its rate of recyclables and sales of commodities.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.nationalwastemgmt.com
