Manitoba is working in partnership with the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association and Manitoba Environmental Industries Association to encourage more recycling of construction materials by funding a two-year construction waste pilot project.
“Manitoba is committed to the goal of reducing the amount of waste heading to landfills,” Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox said. “We look forward to working with the new home construction sector to find new business opportunities that will see waste materials recycled rather than entering our landfills.”
Construction, renovation and demolition activities generate about 30 per cent of the waste entering Manitoba landfills. Funding of $50,000 for this two-year pilot project will help encourage more recycling by demonstrating the feasibility of recycling new home construction materials, identifying potential cost savings and other benefits, the minister said.
“We are very interested in identifying ways for our members to divert more waste from the landfill,” said Mike Moore, president, Manitoba Home Builders’ Association. “We all have a role to play and we look forward to investigating the economics of recycling waste from new home construction.”
The pilot project will measure the weight and types of waste materials generated during new home construction, determine the costs of recycling relative to disposal and identify companies capable of recycling construction waste such as shingles, drywall, plastics, cardboard and wood.
Another key part of the study is to determine what markets are currently available for the recycling of building materials, the minister said. Developing these markets will help promote local economic growth, create green jobs, encourage the development of a green procurement process in the construction sector and find new uses for waste materials, she added.
“We are thrilled at the prospect of advancing environmental opportunities for local businesses,” said Jason Combe, president, Manitoba Environmental Industries Association. “We look forward to helping identify reuse and recycling options for home builders that want to see more of their material diverted from the landfill.”
Manitoba proclaimed October as Sustainability Month and has held a number of events designed to showcase initiatives underway to raise awareness, engage wider communities in sustainability initiatives and honour the work carried out by various individuals and institutions, the minister said.
