The Benefits Of Using Recycled Building Materials

May 11, 2022

A recent report from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation estimates that 10% of Australian Greenhouse gas emissions come from the building and construction sector.
The report makes clear that if Australia is to meet its target of reducing carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050, significant changes will have to be made across all areas of the construction sector.

One of the biggest improvements that construction companies can make is increasing their use of recycled building materials. So what are the benefits of using recycled building materials in your next project?

Cost Effective

Most recycled building products such as timber, steel and aggregates are significantly cheaper to buy than new products. This is in stark contrast to the perceived wisdom that going green means higher costs.

Reduced Environmental Impact

Using recycled materials means there is no initial high energy input required from the extraction of raw material. This significantly reduces the amount of CO2 released during the extraction process. Recycled materials also require less processing than new materials which further reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Makes Permitting Easier

Many local councils have sustainability targets which means they will look more favourably on projects that contain a high percentage of recycled material. This will make it much easier to get planning permissions. Residents will also be less hostile to new environmentally friendly projects in their neighbourhood.

Tax Incentives

Along with sustainability targets, many councils also offer tax incentives for the use of recycled building materials. Some lenders also offer Green Building loans for projects that use a high percentage of recycled material. These loans are often offered at a discount rate compared to regular building loans.

Better Building Performance

Choosing recycled materials doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality or integrity. The rigorous quality controls in place for recycled materials ensure that in most cases, this material performs as well as or even better than new material. Timbercrete, for example, is lighter, cheaper and more robust than conventional concrete.

Quality Recycled Building Materials in Central Coast

Complete Demolition is a leading supplier of recycled building materials on the Central Coast. We use the latest environmentally friendly processes to sort and prepare materials for reuse. So you can be sure of high-grade material that meets your specifications every time. We have a large selection of materials available for immediate delivery. Check out our website or give us a call on 0428 170 278 for more details.