Construction and Demolition Waste

The revised Construction and Demolition – Waste Reduction and Recycling Toolkit is now available online and can be viewed below.

View the Construction and Demolition – Waste Reduction and Recycling Toolkit

Construction and demolition waste

Material from the construction, demolition and renovation of buildings makes up one-third of our region’s waste.

Metro Vancouver aims to increase the recycling rate of the construction, renovation and demolition industry to 80% by diverting recyclable materials, such as wood from disposal.

Construction waste

Construction waste is clean and easy to sort at each stage of construction. For example, most wood waste is produced during framing and cardboard packaging is generated when interior finishes and appliances are installed.

With planning, new construction projects in the region have been able to reuse or recycle more than 75% of their potential waste materials, saving builders money on disposal costs and keeping usable materials out of the landfill.

Renovation and demolition waste

Here are some planning tips to consider before any demolition or renovation work begins:

List all materials that may need recycling or disposal.
Ensure a hazardous materials survey is completed by a qualified professional.
For renovation projects, look for opportunities to avoid complete replacement. Updates such as resurfacing with new paint or repairing in-place can produce similar outcomes.
Identify salvage opportunities before the materials are removed. Ask a salvage contractor or reuse store to help you figure out which materials can be reused.
Identify opportunities to recycle materials that are not reusable. Find facilities on Metro Vancouver Recycles that accept the materials so they can be moved off site quickly following demolition.
Find facilities that take your non-hazardous leftover job-site materials for disposal. Landfills accept a variety of materials but some are prohibited and restricted at local disposal facilities. Check with the facility before delivering your residuals.

Examples of reusable and recyclable materials

<div class="ExternalClass9DEC8C5A2398415F8E58C4A77C63CEBC"><table class="uk-table uk-table-small uk-table-divider uk-table-hover mv-border-slate mv-table-heading-slate mv-table-border uk-table-striped"><thead><tr><th>Material Type</th><th>Examples</th><th>Reuse</th><th>Recycling</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Appliances</td><td>Fridges, stoves, washers, dryers</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Architectural details</td><td>Columns, fireplace mantels, mouldings</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bricks/ blocks</td><td>Clay bricks, concrete precast, aerated blocks, stones block</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Carpet</td><td>Carpet, areas rugs, carpet underlap</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Concrete/ Asphalt/ Aggregates</td><td>Structural concrete, cinder blocks, asphalt pavement, bricks, washout from mixer trucks</td><td> Crush on site and use as fill material</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Drywall</td><td>New gypsum wallboard off cuts Asbestos-free used gypsum wallboard</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Electrical Equipment</td><td>Circuit breakers, breaker boxes, switches</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Finished goods</td><td>Doors, windows, cabinets, counter tops</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gates and Railings</td><td>Security gates, decorative gates, hand rails</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Glass</td><td>Windows, structural glass, mirrors</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Heating/ Cooling</td><td>HVAC ducts, furnaces, boilers, AC units</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Lighting</td><td>Light fixtures, tracks</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Metals</td><td>Piping, aluminum siding, banding, wire, cable, rebar, window frames, metal cabinets and shelves</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Wood</td><td>Forming lumber, dimensional lumber, painted wood, composite, pallets, flooring</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Paper</td><td>Cardboard from packaging, office paper, newspaper</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Plastics</td><td>Empty pails and containers, plastic film, pipes</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Plumbing</td><td>Plumbing fixtures, Sinks, facets, tubs, shower stalls</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Land clearing debris</td><td>Stumps, branches, yard waste</td><td> Can be chipped on site and used as mulch</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Existing vegetation</td><td>Shrubs, small trees, plants and sod</td><td> Replant</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> </div>

Demolition versus deconstruction

After the removal of hazardous materials and the salvage of reusable items, the typical demolition uses heavy machinery to knock down a building, completely destroying it during the process. What remains is collected and likely hauled to a landfill.

With deconstruction, buildings are systematically taken apart, typically by hand. This method keeps building materials intact and separated, making them easier to reuse and recycle. Experience in Metro Vancouver and other regions is that deconstruction can keep at least 80% of building materials out of the landfill.

Municipal demolition bylaws and permits

Metro Vancouver municipalities each have their own set of bylaws and procedures that govern construction and demolition activities, including salvage and recycling requirements in some municipalities. See below for the permit application process and recycling requirements for your area.

Municipalities with demolition recycling requirements:

Try the Residential Demolition Waste Reduction Calculator

Construction and demolition permitting requirements for other municipalities:

Deconstruction Training	Deconstruction Training		216944216
Construction, Renovation, and Demolition (CRD) Waste	Construction, Renovation, and Demolition (CRD) Waste		307605092

Resources

Licensed Material Recovery Facilities and Transfer Stations diversion rates for construction and demolition material recovered and diverted from disposal	https://metrovancouver.org/services/environmental-regulation-enforcement/solid-waste-regulatory-program/facility-diversion-rates, Licensed Material Recovery Facilities and Transfer Stations diversion rates for construction and demolition material recovered and diverted from disposal	Licensed Material Recovery Facilities and Transfer Stations diversion rates for construction and demolition material recovered and diverted from disposal
Used gypsum disposal and new gypsum recycling programs - For household quantities only.	https://metrovancouver.org/services/solid-waste/used-gypsum-disposal-program, Used gypsum disposal and new gypsum recycling programs - For household quantities only.	Used gypsum disposal and new gypsum recycling programs - For household quantities only.
GIS Map of the Regional Solid Waste System and Solid Waste Licensed Facilities	https://gis.metrovancouver.org/mvmaps/SolidWaste, GIS Map of the Regional Solid Waste System and Solid Waste Licensed Facilities	GIS Map of the Regional Solid Waste System and Solid Waste Licensed Facilities
Clean Wood Disposal Ban Rack Card	https://metrovancouver.org/services/solid-waste/Documents/clean-wood-disposal-ban-info-card.pdf, Clean Wood Disposal Ban Rack Card	Clean Wood Disposal Ban Rack Card
Construction and Demolition Waste Management Toolkit	https://metrovancouver.org/services/solid-waste/Documents/dlc-toolkit.pdf, Construction and Demolition Waste Management Toolkit	Construction and Demolition Waste Management Toolkit

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Residential Demolition Waste Generation Rates Calculator	https://metrovancouver.org/services/solid-waste/demolition-waste-generation-rates-calculator, Residential Demolition Waste Generation Rates Calculator	Residential Demolition Waste Generation Rates Calculator
Disposal Ban Program	https://metrovancouver.org/services/solid-waste/disposal-ban-program, Disposal Ban Program	Disposal Ban Program
Hazardous Wastes	https://metrovancouver.org/services/solid-waste/hazardous-wastes, Hazardous Wastes	Hazardous Wastes

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