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Background
Construction, renovation and demolition (CRD) projects are responsible for 12% of the waste Canadians send to landfill each year—yet 75% of these materials still have plenty of life left in them. With the right systems in place, many items can be repurposed, reused or recycled, which would alleviate the strain on overburdened landfills and reduce carbon emissions created by newly-manufactured products and materials.
Since 2022, COIL’s Zero Waste Economic Transformation Lab (the Lab) has been exploring opportunities to make the CRD sector more circular by testing and developing new approaches to recover and recycle materials that are currently perceived as waste.
The Construction, Renovation and Demolition Waste Management Guidebook summarizes the initiative’s findings—and outlines a series of best practices that homeowners and industry professionals can follow to reduce the environmental impact of their CRD projects.
Construction, Renovation and Demolition Waste Management Guidebook
What is The Construction, Renovation and Demolition Waste Management Guidebook?
The Construction, Renovation and Demolition Waste Management Guidebook is for City of Guelph and Wellington County residents and industry professionals who are working on a renovation, demolition, or construction project. It provides clear, concise instructions to help readers identify and seize opportunities to:
- Prevent unnecessary construction waste.
- Reuse and recycle appropriate materials.
- Purchase recyclable products.
- Demonstrate social and environmental responsibility.
- Comply with local, provincial, and federal regulations.
- Reduce overall project costs.
Overview
Within the pages of the Guidebook, residents and professionals will find practical information outlining:
- The financial and environmental benefits of establishing a robust recycling and reuse program on construction and renovation sites.
- The role circularity plays in meeting waste management regulations.
- The basics of deconstruction—and steps to determine when it makes sense.
- Best practices for setting up a circular renovation or construction site.
- Practical methods to reduce, reuse and recycle materials like asphalt shingles, cardboard and boxboard, concrete, drywall, lumber, masonry and metal.
Download the Guidebook
Homeowners and industry professionals are invited to learn more about reducing CRD waste by downloading the Construction, Renovation and Demolition Waste Management Guidebook.
Additionally, we have created two summary sheets aimed at Contractors and Residents that offer a high-level summary of the information shared in the Guidebook (and is designed to be easily shared with your network and construction team).
CRD Guidebook Summary for Residents
CRD Guidebook Summary for Contractors
For more information
Solid Waste Resources
519-767-0598
TTY: 519-826-9771
[email protected]