Waste Type |
Includes |
Reuse |
Recycling |
Occurs |
Value |
| Clean wood | Framing lumber, lathe, cedar shakes, wood flooring. | De-nailed wood can be reused as is or re-milled. It may need to be certified for structural applications. Clean wood can be burnt in wood stoves. | Wood is chipped and de-nailed and sold to private industries in the province as biomass for fuel. Chipped wood can also be used as mulch or trail cover or in large composting operations. | Common, found on most sites | High |
| Metals | Bracing, electrical boxes, wiring, aluminum siding, metal roofing, railings. |
Some metal products can be reused in other projects. | Metal can be melted down to be reused in other applications. | Common, found in smaller quantities | High |
| Aggregate | Rocks, bricks, mortar, asphalt, cement, concrete free of reinforced steel. | Bricks can be cleaned and reused; if being used structurally they may need to be certified by an engineer. Most aggregate can be used as clean fill on site. | Aggregate can be crushed and used at disposal sites for road surfacing and traction and as clean-fill. Some aggregate can be resold. | Common in demolition | Moderate |
| Asphalt shingles | Asphalt shingles | Used shingles have minimal reuse potential, however ends of bundles can be mixed and matched for other projects |
Halifax C&D Recycling has a processing system which separates the tar for fuel and the sand for road construction. Shingles are also chipped and used for road and trail cover. | Common from roofing | Moderate |
| Composite and painted wood | Plywood, chipboard, painted wood. | De-nailed, dry pieces can be reused on other projects. | A portion of wood for biomass can include this type. | Occasional | Moderate |
| Drywall or Gyproc | Drywall and gyproc. | Currently drywall has little reuse market in Nova Scotia. | Dry, undamaged material can however be reused. Drywall can be crushed and used as part of a landfill cover. If uncontaminated by latex or oil paint it can be mixed with organics to make “engineered” soil or as a soil ph regulator. | Common | Minimal |
| Plastic | Vinyl siding, Styrofoam insulation, carpet. | Carefully removed vinyl siding and rigid insulation can be reused. | Some plastics are recycled. Most plastic materials are chipped and added to landfill. | Common | Minimal |
| Treated wood | Pressure treated and wolmanized lumber, creosote timbers. | Treated and painted wood can be reused but may need to be certified for structural purposes. Never burn treated wood as the glues and additives are toxic. | Wood is chipped and added as landfill cover. | Occasional | Minimal |
| Brush | Trees and shrubs removed during construction. | Brush is unsuitable for biomass fuel due to its moisture content. Usually it is chipped and used as mulch. | Occasional | Minimal |