Build Reuse - General

Waste Reduction

The following is a breakdown of US construction and demolition (C&D) waste and building material reuse statistics, according to architect and researcher Brad Guy.

2022 2008
Number of building demolitions 310,000 270,000 (as of 2003)
Annual C&D waste generated 190 million tons 164 million tons (as of 2003)
Number of building material reuse stores 1,500 1,500
Tons of building materials reused 1.15 million tons 350,000
Building Material Reuse (BMR) annual revenue $2 billion $700 million
Jobs - Full Time Equivalent (FTE) 16,500 8,250
*Figures are rounded.

Additional notes:

  • The amount of building demolition in 2022 equates to about 1,200 demolitions every working-day of the year, or about 5 Manhattans worth of buildings completely wiped out every year.
  • Roughly 49% of US "C&D waste" is demolition waste, 41% is renovation waste, and 10% is construction waste.
  • Between 2008 and 2022, the reuse store entities that went out of business tended to be (1) mom-and-pop, for-profit, architectural salvage entities, and (2) independent non-profit entities.
  • Between 2008 and 2022, the reuse store entities that increased the most were Habitat for Humanity ReStores and reclaimed lumber firms.

More to come with the upcoming release of Build Reuse's "Community Toolkit" report / tool!

For a visual representation of the materials that come from demolition:

  • Description: "WaCa Design explores demolition material at its origin – a gutted Manhattan loft apartment temporarily transformed into a gallery showcasing all the detritus from its renovation."
  • Link: https://vimeo.com/353195512

Waste Reduction

The following is a breakdown of US construction and demolition (C&D) waste and building material reuse statistics, according to architect and researcher Brad Guy.

2022 2008
Number of building demolitions 310,000 270,000 (as of 2003)
Annual C&D waste generated 190 million tons 164 million tons (as of 2003)
Number of building material reuse stores 1,500 1,500
Tons of building materials reused 1.15 million tons 350,000
Building Material Reuse (BMR) annual revenue $2 billion $700 million
Jobs - Full Time Equivalent (FTE) 16,500 8,250
*Figures are rounded.

Additional notes:

  • The amount of building demolition in 2022 equates to about 1,200 demolitions every working-day of the year, or about 5 Manhattans worth of buildings completely wiped out every year.
  • Roughly 49% of US "C&D waste" is demolition waste, 41% is renovation waste, and 10% is construction waste.
  • Between 2008 and 2022, the reuse store entities that went out of business tended to be (1) mom-and-pop, for-profit, architectural salvage entities, and (2) independent non-profit entities.
  • Between 2008 and 2022, the reuse store entities that increased the most were Habitat for Humanity ReStores and reclaimed lumber firms.

More to come with the upcoming release of Build Reuse's "Community Toolkit" report / tool!

For a visual representation of the materials that come from demolition:

  • Description: "WaCa Design explores demolition material at its origin – a gutted Manhattan loft apartment temporarily transformed into a gallery showcasing all the detritus from its renovation."
  • Link: https://vimeo.com/353195512