Let's Talk Trash

Recycling Buildings Deconstruction Back to Construction   I first heard about this method on NPR.  I always assumed that recycling was nearly impossible for buildings unless you are talking about metals or certain plastics.  I never thought about other materials such as shingles, the foundation, walls, and flooring.  In this blog, I will discuss how these materials can be recycled and the process it takes.  I will not go through every single part of the building.  That would take too long.

What is a Transfer Station?  When I hauled trash, I would get loaded at a transfer station.  I would drive my truck into a tunnel with a hole in the ceiling.  Trash would be dumped in by either a bulldozer, excavator, or both.  Loading could take minutes, depending on the volume of trash.  A transfer station is more commonly called a Material Recycling Facility or MRF.  There is a lot more to transfer stations than just garbage.  A lot of their operations also pertain to recycling.  They are banded together into bales and loaded onto trucks to go to recycling facilities. What are the Benefits to Transfer Stations? The benefits of using a Material Recycling Facility are: Reduction of transportation costs Reduction in greenhouse gases like vehicle exhaust Reduce landfill waste Remove hazardous waste

How Does Recycling Work Exactly? Turning Trash into Things We Use I understand the video above is quite silly, however it does point out an important part of the supply chain of waste management.  Not all trash must end up rotting away in landfills.  Many things can be recycled and used once again.  Products like: