Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris waste often contains bulky, heavy materials, including concrete, wood, asphalt , gypsum, metals, bricks, and plastics.

C&D debris also includes salvaged building components such as doors, windows, and plumbing fixtures.

C&D waste makes up between 30% and 40% of the total amount of solid waste that is created in Nova Scotia.

Reducing C&D debris conserves landfill space and reduces the environmental impact of producing new materials. It can reduce the overall building project expenses through avoided purchase/disposal costs.

Reducing C&D Debris

• Calculate and purchase only what you need, and use what you have before buying more.
  
• Avoid damaging materials before they are used. Schedule deliveries to reduce on-site storage time and potential damage of building materials.
  
• Buy products with less packaging.
  
• Used building material stores sell materials for construction and renovation projects. Materials and items are salvaged mostly from remodelling projects, pre-demolition salvage, and deconstruction projects.
  
• The Nova Scotia Materials Exchange is a web-based database (www.nsmaterials.com) where individuals and businesses can search for needed materials or list their surplus items for sale.
  
• Many building components can be recycled where markets exist. Wood can be recycled into
  engineered-wood products like furniture and plastic-composite decks, as well as mulch, compost, and other products.
  
• Metals—including steel, copper, and brass—are also valuable commodities to recycle.
  
• Cardboard packaging is not classified as a C&D waste, although it is used in packaging from home building sites. Many markets exist for recycling this material and it is important to separate and recycle it.