When it comes to construction, everyone knows that the construction company will accumulate hefty resources to get the job done. What’s usually surprising about construction sites is the number of wastes they generate. Most contractors and workers can agree that construction is always a chaotic process.

While several construction companies think that the construction waste they generate is never a problem, some will say otherwise. The amount of construction waste a construction site generates is never an appealing image to display to clients. Every construction company should spend the budget wisely because clients expect that they use the budget efficiently. If the clients look at the construction waste amount, they might think that the construction company isn’t using the allotted money properly.

Fortunately, designers and architects have come up with ways to reduce the amount of construction waste produced. When construction sites reduce waste generated from their work, it helps clients save money, use the resources better and even amplify energy performance in the long run.

Use the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Motto

Everyone knows about the three “R”s. Even students that are in preschool know about it because it applies to everyday activities. But nowadays, the construction industry uses the “reduce, reuse, recycle” phrase more strongly because it significantly helps contractors do their jobs. Even if construction companies generate tons of construction waste, they can now turn those wastes into something useful.

They have hundreds of construction materials to use that can prevent extra construction resources from wasting away. Some materials reduce negative environmental impact or materials with high recycled content. They can even reuse existing materials by gathering materials from another building instead of buying new ones.

Reuse (Reprocess)
When it comes to significantly reducing construction waste, there is nothing better than to reuse the same material. No construction company can consume its resources down to the last one. They will always leave a few of those resources behind and usually dispose of them since they won’t use them anymore.

But what they don’t know is that they can use those extra resources for future construction jobs. Contractors won’t have to worry about suppliers not giving them enough since they still have some left from their previous job. Even during demolition, workers can salvage every useful construction material and possibly sell or reuse them. Demolition generates a ton of waste, so the best option to ensure demolition workers can reuse the materials is deconstruction.

Reduce (Proportions)
In some instances, construction companies might have a hard time reusing the extra resources. That is why reducing the number of construction materials before the construction needs to happen. The designers can develop various designs that require fewer materials, reducing the client’s budget.

The pre-design phase is the part where contractors need to focus on if they want to reduce waste. During this phase, they have the potential to remove unnecessary things, including materials that the client won’t need or materials that suppliers don’t need to transport to the construction site.

Moreover, it always comes down to the design. Apart from reducing materials, they can eliminate unnecessary design factors and relocate them into other critical areas. Space should also come to mind when reducing construction waste. If there is more space on the design that the client doesn’t need, it is best to reduce that space and add more practical designs.

Recycle (Material Options)
Lastly, every construction company needs to know about recycling. It is one part that can make a massive difference during the construction process. Every day, manufacturers produce tons of construction materials, and they use valuable resources to create that. The resources they use to make the materials come from natural products that could run out if not gathered or used correctly.

The best way construction companies can focus on recycling is to use more resources with high recycled content. It means the recycled materials they are using also came from other recycled wastes. Contractors should also check with local construction suppliers to further reduce travel time and gas consumption for the suppliers.

The world is slowly learning from its mistakes, and the construction industry is also doing the same. Gone are the days when they have to chop down an entire forest to gather wood and turn them into construction materials. When they follow the three “R”s, they can expect great things to go their way.