Construction and Demolition (C&D)

According to the Construction Materials Recycling Association, the United States generates as much as 325 million tons of recoverable construction and demolition (C&D) materials each year.  C&D materials are produced during the construction, renovation, and demolition of buildings, roads, and bridges, as well as from disasters. Materials recovery from C&D varies widely from region to region, averaging only 25-35% of the total generated (National Institute of Building Sciences, 2009).  

C&D materials typically are bulky and heavy. They include concrete, asphalt (from shingles and roads), wood, metals, glass, carpet, plastics, trees, stumps, rocks, and salvaged building components. 

NERC offers several resources to promote source reduction, reuse, and recycling of C&D:

Asphalt Management Fact Sheet

Carpet Recycling Infrastructure in the Northeast

Gypsum Wallboard Waste Fact Sheet

Disaster Debris Management