This document discusses the use of recycled materials in the construction industry. It notes that recycled timber, glass, and concrete can reduce construction costs while also being more environmentally friendly by reducing waste and pollution. Using these recycled materials helps preserve natural resources and reduce issues like deforestation, global warming, and contamination of landfills. However, widespread recycling requires cooperation from both the construction industry and the general public through developing good recycling habits and purchasing recycled products.

1. Name: Joshua Lee Yee Kai
ID: 0315820
Module: ENGL0105
Session: July, 2013

2. The awareness of recycling has been growing and instilled among a lot of
people. Many people these days are aware of the benefits of recycling to the
environment and are cultivating the good habit. It is because of the many benefits that
recycling has to offer to not only the people but to the environment as well that most of
the key players of industries are putting recycling into practice. One of the many
industries that use recycled materials is no other than the construction industry. Some
clients or developers seek a more approachable way to not only reduce the cost of
construction but also to implement a greener concept of building by using recycled
timber, glass and concrete in the construction of the buildings.
As we all know, a tree that is chopped down will take years to grow back and
reach maturity and then be chopped down again. That is why by using recycled timber,
we get to reduce deforestation. The fact that chopping down one tree may not startle
anyone but at the same time that one tree that is chopped down may be a habitat and a
place called home for some of our animals like birds, insects and also squirrels. At
times, we forget that we are sharing our air with the animal kingdoms in this earth.
Besides that, by using recycled timber we also get to reduce global warming. Global
warming is affecting us worldwide and this issue has to be taken seriously as the ice in
the Arctic is melting at an alarming rate because of the warm change in climate. Our
precious trees that are chopped down are actually the ones that are absorbing the key
greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide which is emitted by our cars and power plants
(Earth Talk, n.d.). Therefore, we should take note of this matter and start using recycled

3. timber as a substitute for raw timber. In this way, we get to address and reduce the rate
of melting of ice in the Arctic.
On the other hand, glass is also another material that is widely used for windows
and glass panels in the construction of a building. Glass is one hundred percent
recyclable and can be recycled over and over again without losing its purity (The Glass
Recycling Company, n.d.). That is why many opt to use recycled glass as it not only
helps save money in the construction of a building but also greatly enhance the
economy of the construction industries. Besides that, by using recycled glass from glass
bottles, light bulbs and broken glassware we also get to reduce waste from filling up
landfills. Although recycling of glass is highlighted many times and it seems easy to be
managed, still it is easier said than done as many people choose not to go through the
hassle of picking up broken chips of glass to be recycled. However, we are actually
helping to preserve our environment by recycling glass like fluorescent bulbs which
contains mercury that will contaminate landfills (Access Washington, n.d.). According to
Ground Work (n.d.), In February 2003, about 20 people living near the Vissershoek
toxic landfill site in Cape Town, suffered mercury poisoning from breathing mercurycontaminated dust which was blown off from the landfill site. Therefore, we should instill
the habit of recycling to reduce the waste sent to landfills. By doing so, we can reduce
contamination and pollution to us and our environment.

4. Furthermore, concrete is one of the most widely used manmade materials in the
construction industry as it is easily obtained, is very strong and can endure high
temperatures from fire for a long time without losing its structural integrity (BUILDINGS,
2005). The term concrete recycling has been growing and is becoming more common to
fully utilize the rubble on site (Wikipedia, n.d.). By using recycled concrete, it not only
cuts down the construction cost but at the same time saves the natural resources like
cement by reusing the remains that was demolished (Construction Materials Recycling
Association, n.d.). Therefore improving the economics and preserving the earth of its
natural resources for the future. Recycling of concrete is a relatively simple process. It
involves breaking, removing, and crushing existing concrete into a material with a
specified size and quality (Portland Cement Association, n.d.). Besides that, by reusing
the concretes it also reduces the amount of waste transported to landfills. Hence, we
get to save both landfill space and transport cost arising from sending waste to landfills.
Finally, by using recyclable products to construct buildings is a very good
approach to help preserve the environment. However this can only be done with the
cooperation of not only the people in the construction industry but also everyone else. It
is necessary for people to start recycling as a daily habit and start looking at waste as
potential recyclable material (Writing For The Environment And Community Organizing,
2012). Also, buying recycled-content materials too helps ensure that the materials
collected in recycling programs will be used again in the manufacture of new products
(US Environmental Protection Agency, 2012). By doing so, we can save our
environment and preserve it for the coming generations.

5. References
Access Washington. (n.d.). Glass. Retrieved September 23, 2013,
from http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/recyclefaq.html
BUILDINGS. (2005, January 6). Concrete VS Steel. Retrieved September 23, 2013,
from http://www.buildings.com/article-details/articleid/2511/title/concrete-vs-steel.aspx
Construction Materials Recycling Association. (n.d.). Good Economic Sense. Retrieved
September 23, 2013, from http://www.concreterecycling.org/
Earth Talk. (n.d.). Which Trees Offset Global Warming Best?. Retrieved September 23,
2013, from http://environment.about.com/od/whatyoucando/a/best_trees.htm
Groundwork. (n.d.). Mercury. Retrieved September 23, 2013,
from http://www.groundwork.org.za/Pamphlets/mercury.htm
Portland Cement Association. (n.d.). Materials Aggregate. Retrieved September 23,
2013, from http://www.cement.org/tech/cct_aggregates_recycled.asp
The Glass Recycling Company. (n.d.). Facts About Glass. Retrieved September 23,
2013,
from http://www.theglassrecyclingcompany.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view
=article&id=86&Itemid=60
US Environmental Protection Agency. (2012, December 12). Choosing Green Materials
And Products. Retrieved September 23, 2013,
from http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/SmarterMaterialChoices.htm

6. Wikipedia. (n.d.). Concrete Recycling. Retrieved September 23, 2013,
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_recycling
Writing For The Environment And Community Organizing. (2012, May 4). Essay 1
Cause/Effect – Recycling: GREENS and Benefits. Retrieved September 23, 2013,
from http://envirowriters.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/essay-1-causeeffect-recyclinggreens-and-benefits/