Practical
Tips for Demolition Salvage & Recycling
Demolishing
buildings generates huge volumes of waste. The practice
of tearing apart a building and putting all materials in
a truck for disposal is usually cost prohibitive. Dismantling,
salvaging and separating recyclable materials has become
the cost-effective, competitive method for handling waste.
Tips
- Modifying
an existing building for new use preserves the greatest
amount of building materials and provides the greatest
overall savings.
- Identify
salvagers through this guide or find them listed in the
Yellow Pages under “Demolition Contractors,”
“Salvage-Merchandise” or “Building Materials
- Used.”
- Plan
the project so that materials are moved systematically
to prevent them from becoming mixed or destroyed by weather
and requiring disposal.
- Schedule
sufficient time for salvage and recycling. The more time
that is allowed, the greater the potential to divert waste
and save money.
- Re-use
the components of the demolished structure in the new
project. Start with common dimensional lumber such as
2x4s and 2x6s.
Following
are a Portland remodeler’s specific guidelines for
salvaging and recycling:
- Appliances
- Store for reuse on project; donate or sell usable units;
recycle unusable units with metal recycler.
- Cabinets
- Store reusable doors, drawers and trim for reuse on
project; donate or sell usable units; recycle unusable
cabinets with wood, hardware with metal.
- Doors
- Salvage reusable doors; recycle damaged doors with wood,
hardware with metal.
- Electrical
- Scrap wire to electrician; recycle remainder with metal.
- Framing
- Reuse lumber when possible; recycle remainder with
wood.
- Heating
- Recycle ducts and trimming with metal. Insulation
- Reuse clean scraps for chinking windows or filling around
tubs; dispose of remainder.
- Millwork
- Remove casings and moldings for reuse; recycle unusable
items with wood.
- Paint
- Reuse leftover paint as primer; dispose of unusable
paint at hazardous waste facility.
- Plumbing
- Remove fixtures for reuse; donate or sell usable fixtures;
recycle metal. Siding - Reuse siding in good condition;
recycle damaged wood siding.
- Vinyl
flooring - Flooring and/or adhesives may contain asbestos
fibers. Before removal, call State Asbestos Hotline.
- Windows
- Salvage for reuse; remove and recycle glass; recycle
wood and aluminum frames. Vinyl frames are not recyclable.
- Wood
flooring - Salvage for reuse; recycle damaged flooring
with wood.
