Because of this, recycled materials should be considered after options to reduce or reuse materials have been fully explored. Recycled materials lessen the need for virgin feedstock and avoid sending useful materials to the landfill however, significant energy and other resources are often required during the recycling process. Materials that are collected, reprocessed and used again to make a new product are known as recycled materials. Recycle: Use recycled materials and recycle what you use. For example, use screws instead of nails and avoid the use of glues or other liquid adhesives. Design site features to be disassembled without unreasonable effort or extensive damage to the material. When designing new site features, select durable and nontoxic materials in modular and or standard sizes. Determining what materials are available for reuse early in the design process will allow time for creativity and design exploration. Locate materials early in the design process.When reusing materials it is often helpful to let the material inspire the design. Homeowners should be open to new and creative ways in which materials may be incorporated into the landscape. Reclaimed materials can be used in whole form or deconstructed and dismantled for reuse as a completely new object. Common suppliers include recycling centers, salvage stores, Habitat for Humanity and websites like or craigslist. Research local resources for reclaimed materials and develop a list of vendors in your area. When shopping for reclaimed materials, homeowners now have a variety of options.
Reclaimed materials can provide design details and a historic perspective that make the landscape unique, and they are likely to save money. Nor do you need to send the old brick to a landfill. If it is already on site, you don’t need to expel greenhouse gases in transporting it.
When you reuse reclaimed brick, for example, you do not need to mine the raw material or fire it in a kiln. Reuse is one of the most effective strategies for offsetting the environmental and human health impacts of material or products. Reuse: Make used or discarded things new again.