Closing the loop: Using building rubble in construction

The project achieved a 90% reuse rate of demolition waste by carefully deconstructing existing buildings on a 15 ha site. By reusing 4,500 m3 of concrete onsite for fences, casting beds, and pipes, the project saved R649,000 in material and transport costs. Other recovered materials included 3,500 m3 of brickwork for a local school, 2,600 m3 of asphalt, and 6,800 m3 of laterite. The approach avoided greenhouse gas emissions linked to virgin material extraction and processing, with only PVC piping, roof insulation, and sheeting sent to landfill.

• The project achieved a 90% reuse rate of demolition waste through careful deconstruction, avoiding the landfilling of over 16,000 m3 of mixed waste which would have cost R12.3 million.
• Reusing 4,500 m3 of old concrete for onsite fences, casting beds, and pipes resulted in total savings of R649,000, comprising R585,000 in material costs and R64,000 in transport-to-landfill fuel costs.
• Beyond concrete, the project recovered 3,500 m3 of brickwork for a local school, 2,600 m3 of asphalt for return to Much Asphalt, and 6,800 m3 of laterite for the Killarney Race Track.

APA

Barnes, K. (2018). Closing the loop: Using building rubble in construction. GreenCape. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WOOLWORTHS-CASE-STUDY-6-3.pdf

Chicago

Barnes, Kirsten. Closing the loop: Using building rubble in construction. GreenCape, 2018. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WOOLWORTHS-CASE-STUDY-6-3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Barnes |first1=Kirsten |title=Closing the loop: Using building rubble in construction |publisher=GreenCape |date=August 2018 |url=https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WOOLWORTHS-CASE-STUDY-6-3.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{barnes2018closing, author = {Barnes, Kirsten}, title = {{Closing the loop: Using building rubble in construction}}, institution = {GreenCape}, year = {2018}, month = aug, url = {https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WOOLWORTHS-CASE-STUDY-6-3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }