Waste Transfer Stations can incorporate a mixture of manual and mechanical operations and there is an established tradition for salvaging and recycling building and construction materials.

Demolition waste gets broken down and used as foundations and sub-bases for new construction, roads and other pavements.  Even old concrete recycled for use as crushed aggregate for new concrete is being used although there are some concerns and must be done with caution.

The option to reuse valuable building elements is increasing, items like: ashlar blocks, bricks, roofing slates, tiles, lintels, flooring tiles and decorative items are retrieved for re-use.

This is done to prevent as much of this waste going into landfills as possible. Although substantial landfill has decreased and recycling has increased, there is still 54 per cent of our waste being sent to landfill and over 80 per cent of waste that could be recycled is not, and valuable raw materials continue to be consumed at an unsustainable and environmentally destructive rate.