Innovation Cuts Waste and Emissions from Building Demolition or Renovation

Construction and Renovation generate Lots of Waste

More broadly, the buildings and construction sector caused at least 34 percent of CO2 emissions globally, according to the UNEP.

The construction and home renovations that are part of that total are notorious for the amount of waste they create. Huge construction dumpsters sit in front of buildings or houses, full of waste that is highly likely to end up in landfills and it won’t be sorted or separated for recycling or compost, Meu Resources said. Instead, it goes to the nearest landfill. A key reason is that most contractors learned their trades when construction materials were much cheaper and waste was less of an issue. Moreover, it’s just easier for contractors to order more material and not optimise every piece.

That waste includes materials such as wood, drywall, tiles and concrete, Handyman Singapore added, as well as packaging materials and unused building supplies. This type of waste, a large portion of renovation debris, can often be recycled or reused. Recycling is ideal for materials such as metal, wood, and concrete. Landfills should only be used as a last resort.

Changes in Practices can Reduce Waste

Fortunately, practices are beginning to change. In the US, for instance, Okon said on-site recycling of construction materials is becoming an essential practice for environmentally responsible and cost-effective construction. Companies can significantly reduce waste heading to landfills while conserving valuable natural resources by recycling materials directly at construction sites. This approach cuts disposal costs, minimises transportation needs, and can even generate revenue through the sale of recyclable materials. As environmental regulations tighten and contractors face growing pressure to adopt sustainable practices, recycling positions companies for long-term success. Effective recycling strategies provide cost savings, enhanced reputation and compliance with evolving standards.

In Malaysia, researchers said, reused building materials are sourced from various stages of building construction, maintenance or demolition. They can be incorporated into other projects after minor refurbishment. Construction waste can also be recycled, which involves the disassembly of building components and then blending them with other materials to create fresh materials. This practice minimises waste and conserves resources. Both reuse and recycling reduce carbon emissions and yield economic and environmental advantages.

In Singapore, too, IoTSentry Vision Network said the residential demolition services market is undergoing a strategic shift towards integrated solutions that combine traditional demolition with eco-friendly waste management and site remediation. The shift is driven by government sustainability policies and increasing urban redevelopment. The market includes a mix of established local players and international firms adopting advanced industrial technologies such as robotic demolition and real-time site monitoring, leading to heightened competition and service differentiation. Industry leaders are investing in sustainable demolition techniques such as selective dismantling and material recycling. Firms that prioritise sustainable demolition coupled with digital transformation initiatives can gain competitive advantages. These innovations also meet regulatory requirements and align with client demands for safer, faster, and environmentally responsible demolition.

Factors influencing the shift also include low-cost labour leading to advances in demolition technology such as robotic demolition and dust control systems, DataFocus noted. Environmental concerns have pushed governments to implement regulatory frameworks and encourage recycling and reuse.

Handyman Singapore said contractors can reuse materials such bricks and tiles in other projects. They can also find creative ways to repurpose materials, such as using old wood for new furniture or decorative elements. If they can’t reuse the materials themselves, they can identify local recycling centres that accept them.

Startups have Solutions

While some well-established contractors have programmes in place for reducing and reusing waste, start-ups in a variety of locations have solutions too.

In Singapore, for example, Wwwaste.io provides support for recycling operations, including sorting, processing and repurposing recyclable materials. It enables recyclers to manage the reception of waste from warehouses and collectors, which enhances coordination and promotes sustainable recycling. Its inventory management system ensures full traceability of waste from collection to transformation. Recyclers can also be discoverable by other warehouses and collectors on its platform.

Urban Machine in California works to salvage millions of tons of wood waste from construction and demolition by robotically reclaiming it for reuse as premium lumber products. Seeking alternatives to landfill disposal, it used robotics to develop a prototype to automate metal fastener removal and created AI-powered software for an automated machine. Its machines enable contractors to turn lumber waste from demolition and framing into high value lumber products.

Les Ripeurs in France collects and sorts construction waste, according to Startus Insights. It collects bags of rubble directly from a site within three days of site managers placing a request and deposits them in professional waste reception centres that transform the waste into goods for other construction sites, resources for other industries, or energy.

Norwegian startup Loopfront has also developed a waste-to-resource platform that enables building owners and construction companies to reuse construction materials. Users register their materials and inventory in existing buildings or those planned for demolition, along with their technical information. The platform plans logistics such as demounting, transportation, and storage. The marketplace also enables construction companies to make their waste materials available to other firms.

And British startup Environmate offers a second life marketplace for construction waste or excess materials. It connects people to buy, sell or search for leftover building materials. After listing an item with a description, pictures and contact details, potential buyers send the sellers direct messages if they are interested in buying them. The platform also allows wholesalers to expand their market reach by listing their products in bulk and connecting online with the startup’s construction community.

While it may take time to convince contractors to change, the solutions are available and the economics as well as regulatory requirements may propel relatively quick shifts in practices.