There are some key differences between recycling and reusing building materials
At Adelaide and Rural Salvage we aim to reduce, reuse and recycle as many building materials as possible to help create a better society for both the environment and our building community.
Right now is a great time to reflect on our individual and collective impacts on the environment. People all over the world are looking for better ways to reduce, reuse and recycle building materials, especially since the increased popularity of DIY projects and sustainable living.
In this article we are going to break down some of the differences between recycling and reusing building materials.
Reuse
The expression “reuse” applies to reusing building materials in a way that utilises the best parts of the product. It takes the most reusable qualities of timber, window frames, plumbing, steel, pavers and more to create something new. Before disposing of particular materials or useful objects consider whether they could be reused for a new purpose. There are many items that can be reused and they will always help prevent the amount of waste building up in our landfills, as well as lower the level of energy needed to manufacture new items. This results in less pollution and more natural resources left intact. Some examples of reusing include:
- Old bricks or concrete waste can be broken down into new structures
- Railway sleepers can be used to line your garden beds
- Old doors can be used in creative or structural ways
- Pavers can be cleaned up and reused in a different design
Over the years we’ve seen a large variety of building materials reused in sustainable and creative ways. Some of the projects we’ve helped create over the years utilise building materials in design, textural and structural ways.
Recycle
Recycling refers to the process of breaking down an item into raw materials that can then be used to create something new. It is very similar to the process of reusing but has some distinct differences. Commonly people will think of plastic bottles when referring to recycling, however, glass, aluminum and more can be broken down and completely repurposed.
Often recycled timber is created by taking the pieces of timber from old structures and houses, then the timber is trimmed, nails removed, the wood is treated and many other steps to help recycle the timber for a new purpose.
Overall, reuse is to lengthen the life of an item and recycling is the process of reprocessing of an item into a new raw material.
At Adelaide Rural and Salvage we value the process of reusing and recycling materials. If you want to explore our full product range then take a look at the materials you can use in your next project.
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