Using materials recovered from the waste stream typically results in less waste, pollution, and energy use than using virgin materials. From an environmental standpoint, post-consumer is typically considered preferable to pre-consumer recycled content because post-consumer recycled materials are more likely to have been diverted from landfills.
In some cases, we consider products with recycled content green but with some caveats regarding where they should be used. For example, rubber flooring made from recycled automobile tires should not be used in most fully enclosed indoor spaces due to the likelihood of VOC emissions.
Recycling can have downsides. For example, some studies show that curbside collection programs and some recycling processes use more energy than they save. Closed-loop recycling is generally preferable to “down-cycling,” in which a lower-grade material is produced—but due to contamination of waste streams and the difficulty of extracting high-value ingredients, down-cycling may be as good as it gets. At times recycling can re-introduce hazardous components. Some products, like copper and aluminum, include a high level of recycled content as a matter of course—which we applaud, but don’t consider justification for listing in GreenSpec. As more complete life-cycle information on recycled materials and processes becomes available, we use that to increase our scrutiny of recycled products.
Recycled-Plastic Rebar Supports
Eclipse Plastic manufactures and sells directly a variety of rebar positioning devices made from 100% recycled engineering-grade plastic. Eclipse's product line includes a variety of "towers," "wheels," a cover, and a "cradle."
Concrete accessories include such items as anchors, inserts, expansion joints, waterstops, and products that prevent soil contamination from truck overages.
Filling the expansion joints in concrete construction is a good use for panels made from recycled newspaper or waste agricultural materials, because the strength requirements are minimal (though for radon control, less permeable joint sealants may be preferable).
Waterstops must be highly durable and corrosion resistant. Plasticized PVC is the most common waterstop material, but PVC is made with phthalates, an endocrine disruptor, and its production and disposal pose a number of environmental problems. GreenSpec lists products using alternatives to PVC such as EDPM and polypropylene.
The wastewater from washing down concrete equipment on the jobsite has a pH as high as 12 (similar to drain cleaner) and can potentially contain toxic metals. Concrete washout systems capture this wastewater for proper disposal, preventing it from entering the groundwater. These systems also minimize solid concrete waste leftover at the jobsite.
Rebar supports for concrete formwork hold rebar in place during pours and have minimal structural requirements. GreenSpec lists plastic products listed here with high recycled content, plastic.
GreenSpec also lists structural elements that serve as thermal breaks between balconies and buildings—a major area of heat loss, and one requiring special attention.
LEED Credits
MRc4: Recycled Content
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