Home renovations always leave contractors or homeowners with a lot of leftover materials. From carpeting scraps to partial cans of paint, those materials aren’t meant for the landfill.
According to the EPA, construction and demolition debris reached 600 million tons in 2018. Of that amount, 145 million tons ended up in landfills. While materials like concrete, steel, and wood can be recycled, it doesn’t always happen. It’s up to contractors and property owners to follow their district’s rules.
Sometimes, thinking outside the box also helps with responsible disposal. The online search tool at RecycleNation helps you determine where to bring leftover materials. It’s also important to understand your state’s and the federal government’s regulations regarding home improvement leftovers.
Federal Regulations: RCRA and the HHW Exemption
Hazardous waste, which is what most building materials are, is typically governed by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and enforced by the EPA. It’s an act that dictates how materials harmful to the environment are managed at their end of life.
The problem with RCRA is that there is an exception for households. The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Exemption states that some waste generated by a single household, including renovation leftovers, is exempt from federal regulations. There are exceptions:
- Batteries
- Cleaners
- Oils
- Paints
- Pesticides
Just because there’s no federal law dictating how you dispose of renovation leftovers doesn’t mean you can throw them away. Several states have additional laws you must follow.
State Laws: Rules That Override Federal Regulations
While federal regulations may make it seem like throwing things like laminate flooring or pressure-treated wood is okay, you have to abide by state laws. Several states have their own rules regarding home improvement leftovers.
Construction Debris and Wood Products
Carpeting, concrete, drywall, lumber, tiles, and other building materials aren’t always suitable for the trash due to their composition.
Carpeting: California and New York charge a fee on carpeting purchases. This funds recycling programs in both states. Elsewhere, it’s usually advised to throw them out,
Gypsum Board: Drywall can produce harmful gas when it decomposes in a landfill. Oregon and Washington recommend recycling through specialized facilities.
Concrete: Installing a drywell in a wet basement requires cutting and removing some concrete. Redoing a concrete patio or driveway is another time you’d want to consider recycling. While there are no specific rules, it can be crushed and reused, so it’s best to keep it out of the trash.
Pressure-Treated Wood: While today’s manufacturers no longer treat pressure-treated lumber with Chromated Copper Arsenate (Arsenic), the copper-based preservatives used still require careful handling. It’s illegal to burn pressure-treated wood. California requires it to go to a specific Treated Wood Waste specialist.
Scrap Metal: Old ducts, light fixtures, and metal posts or rails should go to a scrap metal facility. It’s melted down and reused.
Special Considerations
Sometimes, it’s not as much the material as what went into the manufacturing process.
Thermostats: Did your renovation include updating older thermostats to new smart ones? If so, California, Maine, and Vermont ban the disposal of mercury thermostats in landfills.
Tiles: Due to concerns about asbestos in older floor tiles, any material containing asbestos must be documented and recycled through a certified hauler in California, New Jersey, and New York.
Paints, Stains, and Solvents
Many home improvement projects end with paints, stains, and varnishes left over. There’s not enough paint to complete another job, so you don’t need it. Several states prohibit these items from being sent to the landfill. Instead, you have to follow specific rules or bring leftover paint products to an environmental depot for safe disposal.
Acrylic and Latex: Let them harden before you throw them out. In California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, you pay an environmental fee when purchasing the item. That fee covers entry into the PaintCare recycling program.
Oil-Based Paints, Stains, and Varnishes: Because these are often flammable or contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), disposing of them isn’t advised. It’s prohibited in many states, including California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Vermont.
If your home was built before 1978, there’s a chance there is lead-based paint under the walls or on doors, trim, or window sills. Many states have strict rules about renovations where lead is a risk. Specific measures are taken to contain lead during any demolition or removal.
A Step-by-Step Plan for Responsible Disposal of Building Materials
The best way to ensure your leftover building materials are properly disposed of is to use this guide.
Separate
Go through the items you have left over and separate them by material type (metal, paint, wood, etc.). Some items must be separated for recycling. For example, if there is a metal post in a concrete block, remove the post from the block using a sledgehammer. Remove nails and screws from any wooden pieces.
Donate
See what materials are available and post them on local forums or marketplaces. You might be able to give usable materials to someone in the area. Craftspeople can often use smaller materials in their building projects.
You might not need the dozens of foot-long pieces of pressure-treated lumber, but someone else might be able to turn them into an outdoor plant pot or other small outdoor item.
Inventory What’s Left
Once you’ve given away as much as you can, inventory what you have left. Check those items against local guides to see what you’re supposed to do with them. Take note next to each item where you need to bring it.
Verify Recycling Center Rules
Check the hours and rules for dropping off unused building waste. You might find there are limits on how much you can take. You’ll need to plan separate trips over multiple days in order to recycle it all. Some facilities require you to make an appointment.
Plan Your Trip
Once you have the locations and rules, plan your trip so you arrive at that facility before it closes. Many offer abbreviated weekend hours and aren’t open in the evenings during the work week. You’ll need to time your different stops correctly.
Know Where to Go
You cannot automatically throw away renovation leftovers, even if you did the work yourself and never hired a contractor. You have to ensure you’re handling these materials correctly.
A curbside trash can or dumpster isn’t always the right place for home improvement leftovers. Make sure you take the time to review your local and federal regulations and use them to determine the right way to dispose of your leftovers. If you need help, don’t forget that RecycleNation’s AI search tool is always available.
