What Can I Recycle?

Recycling guidelines vary by location as not all municipalities have the capacity to process things like cardboard or metal. Contact your local recycling center to learn more about what they’ll accept.

But remember, recycling isn’t your only option! There is a growing market for re-usable materials including, but certainly not limited to: Appliances, paint, solvents, masonry, rebar, wood, doors, windows and so much more. We’ve put together a shortlist of materials to help guide you as you plan and begin building your new environmentally friendly home.

Cardboard, Paper, and Plastic

Cardboard, paper, and plastic packaging of construction materials can amount to a hefty pile of waste. Lucky for you, manufacturers and distributors already realize this and may offer options to purchase materials sans packaging or make use of reusable packaging that can be returned after your materials are safely delivered to the construction site.

Contact your suppliers to inquire about their sustainable packaging practices and coordinate reusable and returnable packaging.

Wood, Drywall, Insulation, and Sawdust

Homes built primarily of wood will produce a fair amount of scrap wood, sawdust, and deconstructed wood waste. Investigate your wood waste to determine if it’s viable for recycling or reuse. Wood that has been treated with creosote, lead-based materials or other toxic chemicals may not be suitable for recycling. Unused lumber may be sold back to the supplier.

Building Projects for Reusing Untreated Wood (Reclaimed or New):

• Build a backyard treehouse for the kids.
• Construct a shed for gardening tools.
• Build your own furniture. Reclaimed wood tables are extremely popular.
• Create an accent wall.

Wood scrap unfit for donation or building can also be chipped down to create mulch for your flowerbeds. Both chipped wood scrap and sawdust are hearty additions to your vegetable garden.

Do you have excess insulation? Count that as a blessing in disguise and pad your new home’s internal walls for increased noise reduction.

For drywall disposal, contact your local recycling center to investigate their capacity to recycle drywall into textured wall sprays, acoustical coating, stucco, fire barriers, and agricultural products.