Recycled materials

Many new building materials contain a certain proportion of recycled material or waste produced when processing other materials. They will perform as well as other products, because they have to meet the same standards. Your choice includes:

• Concrete blocks that contain recycled aggregate or glass.
   

• Wall boards and floor boards made from waste or salvaged wood (but make sure they don’t have high levels of formaldehyde resin).
   

• Insulation made from newspaper or recycled cotton - including denim jeans!
   

• Copper pipes.
   

• Carpet underlay made from recycled tyres.
   

• Paving for paths and driveways made from reycled plastic.
   

• Fencing, decking, garden furniture made from recycled plastic.

WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) Information about recycled materials:

www.wrap.org.uk

Lists of companies that supply recycled products — look at the trade section for construction products:

www.recycled
products.org.uk