Recycling metals from construction waste in Canada
Recycling metals from construction waste plays a crucial role in Canada’s efforts toward achieving sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of the construction industry. Construction and demolition (C&D) waste is a significant contributor to the country’s overall waste, generating approximately 4 million tonnes annually, according to a 2022 report from the Canadian Construction Association.
The Need for Metal Recycling in Construction
Metals such as steel, aluminum, and copper are vital components of construction projects, but their production from raw materials is energy-intensive and environmentally taxing. For example:
Steel production accounts for roughly 8% of global carbon emissions, with virgin production requiring 14 GJ of energy per tonne.
Aluminum production consumes up to 15 MWh per tonne, contributing to significant greenhouse gas emissions.
By recycling these materials, Canada reduces both energy consumption and CO2 emissions while preserving finite natural resources.
Current Metal Recycling Statistics in Canada
In 2022, Canada achieved a recycling rate of approximately 48% for construction waste, but regional variations highlight the need for more uniform strategies. For instance, provinces like British Columbia have higher recycling rates due to strict local regulations, while others lag behind.
Canada recycles 90% of structural steel from construction sites, making it one of the most recycled materials. Approximately 80% of aluminum used in construction is recycled, driven by its high value and ease of processing.
Although less common, copper recycling is gaining traction due to its rising demand in renewable energy and electrical systems.
The Recycling Process for Metals
1. Collection and Sorting: Construction sites generate mixed waste that is transported to specialized recycling facilities. Advanced technologies like magnetic separators and eddy currents are used to separate ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
2. Processing: Recovered metals are cleaned, shredded, and melted into ingots, ready for reuse in manufacturing. For example, recycled steel and aluminum are used in new building projects, automotive production, and packaging.
3. Logistics and Tracking: Digital platforms like Loopico facilitate the tracking and trading of reclaimed metals, ensuring transparency and efficiency in the recycling supply chain.
Recycling metals saves significant amounts of energy compared to producing them from raw materials. For instance:
Recycling steel saves 74% of energy and Recycling aluminum saves 95% of energy.
The global market for recycled construction metals is expected to reach $100 billion by 2030, creating jobs in collection, sorting, and processing industries.
While metal recycling offers numerous benefits, challenges remain:
Inconsistent Policies: Recycling regulations vary across provinces, making it difficult to standardize efforts.
Contamination: Mixed construction waste often contains contaminants, reducing the quality of recycled metals. With the help of Loopico software, metals will be separated from construction and demolition sites, which will solve this problem.
Market Volatility: Fluctuating prices for scrap metals can discourage recycling initiatives.
Recycling metals from construction waste is an essential strategy for achieving a circular economy in Canada. In this regard, by focusing on innovative recycling methods, using digital platforms and planning to separate materials from their source of production (demolition and construction sites), Loopico will provide an important contribution to the construction industry to minimize its environmental footprint. And at the same time unlock significant economic value.
As Canada continues to refine its recycling practices, the integration of reclaimed metals into new projects will serve as a benchmark for sustainable construction globally.
Sources :
https://worldsteel.org/steel-topics/sustainability/sustainability-indicators-2024-report/
https://worldsteel.org/publications/fact-sheets/
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