C&D World Session Preview: Bridging sustainability ideals and reality

At C&D World 2025 (March 11-14, Dallas), attendees will have the chance to grow their knowledge of the construction and demolition (C&D) recycling industry through a variety of dynamic education sessions covering the latest trends, opportunities and challenges shaping the industry.

In a session titled Sustainability Trends: Frank Conversation on Bridging Ideals and Reality, scheduled for March 12 from 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT, William Cooper, director of business development at Cooper Recycling, will lead a panel discussion featuring Tim Townsend, environmental engineering professor at the University of Florida; Brock Hill, vice president of Premier Recycle Company; Nelson Russom, waste and circularity program manager at Turner Construction; and Dan Costello, owner of Costello Dismantling. The panelists will discuss how the drive for sustainable end-of-life materials management and increased circularity is impacting the C&D recycling sector.

Construction & Demolition Recycling spoke with Cooper about the session and what C&D World 2025 attendees can expect to take away from this informative panel discussion.

Construction & Demolition Recycling (C&DR): What can attendees expect to learn from this session?

William Cooper (WC): This session offers an opportunity to learn from the leading scholar in the field about the nature of sustainability and to hear from industry experts from across the country and throughout the construction and demolition chain on best practices with respect to sustainability. One of the goals of this session is to talk about how we can bridge the gap between the ‘pie-in-the-sky’ ideas and the realities of what we are actually faced with on the ground.

Attendees will not only learn about the theoretical aspects of sustainability but also gain ample knowledge on how to effectively implement best practices into their own operations.

C&DR: Why is sustainability important in the C&D recycling industry?

WC: Whether we realize it or not, sustainability is at the core of the C&D recycling industry. Having a better understanding of what people are talking about and why stakeholders are asking about it presents opportunities for our industry to embrace a challenge and realize an opportunity.

Sustainability addresses the environmental impact of C&D recycling, and by recognizing C&D materials as resources rather than waste, the industry can contribute to a more sustainable future while realizing economic benefits.

C&DR: What are the environmental benefits of recycling C&D materials?

WC: From a materials conservation perspective, it is critical we maximize the recovery of beneficial and highly recyclable materials. There also are tangible energy savings and greenhouse gas reduction benefits that are made possible by recycling building materials.

C&DR: What are the industry’s current sustainability trends, and what trends do you predict for the future?

WC: There is a growing prevalence of green building standards that customers are requesting, if not demanding. This is not merely a trend; this is a shift in culture that is going to continue and become only more important.

C&DR: What are some of the challenges and opportunities of incorporating sustainability efforts into operations?

WC: It can be difficult to meet the lofty and sometimes unrealistic, or frankly impossible, standards that are demanded. For example, the variability in building materials and construction types can make things complicated when it comes to meeting specific standards and reporting diversion rates.

However, by identifying new end markets for these recycled materials and collaborating with others to develop programs for hard-to-recycle materials, we can advance sustainability efforts in C&D recycling.

C&DR: How can the industry better manage balancing the ideal sustainability goals with the practical realities of handling mixed C&D materials?

WC: This is exactly what we are going to discuss! There are some creative ways to adjust how we all operate, especially on a case-by-case basis. But sometimes, a frank conversation is needed to properly align expectations with reality. You can do your best to maximize diversion, but you simply can’t be expected to turn asbestos into wine!