Large quantities of material 'wastes' are generated during the demolition process. The amount of material that can be economically salvaged for reuse/recycling is largely dependent on the type of building being demolished, time constraints and the local recycling market.

An initial survey of the site should be made to identify salvage opportunities. Materials that can easily be salvaged from demolition sites include:

• Concrete and concrete block: can be crushed and used as aggregate and hardfill.
  
• Brick: can be reused if whole, or crushed to use as landscape cover, sub-base or fill material.
  
• Ashphalt material: can be sorted by type for milling and recycling.
  
• Vegetation: can be chipped or shredded for use as ground cover, mulch, compost, pulp or process fuel.
  
• Wood: can be sorted for reuse, remanufacture or firewood.
  
• Precast panels: can be used for erosion control or landscape features.
  
• Windows and doors: can be salvaged for reuse.
  
• Metal: can be separated for recycling.
  
• Hardware: can be salvaged for reuse.
  
• Electrical and plumbing fixtures: can be salvaged.

For a 2 page summary of tips for better managing this stage, click here.