As the green building movement begins to gain popularity among home owners and buyers, more contractors are looking at ways to reduce construction site waste and keep building materials out of landfills. Which types of construction materials can be recycled? According to Aimee Demerath of Frey Construction & Home Improvement in Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin, there is a wide variety of construction materials that can be recycled, and her company is dedicated to going the extra mile to protect the environment. In fact, according to Demerath, construction waste is a major problem in Wisconsin landfills. Frey Construction, which offers construction services and home remodeling in Madison and the surrounding areas, takes a much different approach than most other companies. Rather than hauling project waste to landfills, Frey Construction recycles everything possible. “We recycle just about everything from our job site,” Demerath says. “It’s a big part of our company philosophy.” She explains just a few of the recycling programs available in Wisconsin for construction waste.
Cardboard and Metal Recycling
Many of the same materials we toss into our recycling bins at home can also be recycled from a construction site. As does nearly every industry, the construction business generates quite a bit of cardboard waste. Corrugated cardboard (the kind that is brown in color and commonly used in packaging) from construction sites is recyclable and can be turned into kraft paper, the primary component used to make new cardboard. In fact, these days almost all paper mills use recycled cardboard as the primary ingredient in kraft paper.
Demerath says that metal construction waste can also be recycled. This includes, among other items, copper piping and wire, aluminum siding, flashing and gutters. During remodeling, a number of older metal items can also be recycled, including metal radiators, grates and pipes.
Wood Recycling
Wood waste from construction sites, says Demerath, can also be recycled. Clean wood can be ground for use as mulch, and can be used as surfacing material for paths and play areas. Recycled wood can also be used in animal bedding products and “living walls.”
Shingle Recycling
According to Demerath, Frey Construction & Home Improvement was the very first company in the Madison area to begin recycling shingles three years ago. “Many other companies have now jumped on board,” she says, “which we’ve been very happy to see.” Waste shingles from Frey Construction’s job sites, Demerath explains, are taken to a company called The Bruce Company, where they are reprocessed for use in hot mix asphalt. As of 2009, The Bruce Company alone shipped over 8,000 tons of recycled shingle product for use in new road and parking lot construction all over Wisconsin.
The Green Construction Movement
Demerath says that Frey Construction & Home Improvement’s focus on recycling is just one part of a larger philosophy. “In recent years, some contractors have begun paying more attention to the impact they have on the environment. We are definitely one of those companies,” Demerath says. In addition to its commitment to waste reduction and recycling, Frey Construction is also dedicated to providing superior energy efficiency. The company uses only the best windows on the market and uses top-quality insulated siding in many of its remodeling projects. Demerath says that although over 90% of its construction waste is currently recycled, Frey continues to do everything possible to keep the rest out of landfills. The company is even in the midst of developing a window recycling program.
“Most construction companies simply don’t consider their impact on the environment,” says Demerath. “We do. And that’s why we’re the right choice for the environmentally conscious homeowner in Madison.”
