As U.S. Construction Costs Rise, Recycled Materials Gain Ground in Infrastructure Projects

By: Damaris Sacoto
Miami, FL - As cities across the United States confront rising construction costs, stricter environmental regulations, and mounting pressure to reduce waste, the reuse of construction and demolition debris is emerging as a practical - and increasingly necessary - strategy.

Industry analysts say construction waste now represents one of the largest untapped material streams in the country, with millions of tons sent to landfills each year even as contractors face higher prices for aggregates, concrete, and base materials. In response, public agencies and private developers are beginning to explore circular economy models that reintegrate waste into the construction supply chain.

One of the approaches gaining attention comes from outside the United States.

Colombian entrepreneur Carlos Onate, whose work focuses on circular construction materials and sustainability systems, is preparing to introduce a technical book in early 2026 that documents how construction and demolition waste can be processed and reused in civil works without compromising safety or regulatory standards.

The book, Sustainable Management of C&D Waste in the United States, examines how recycled materials can be incorporated into infrastructure, housing, and renewable energy projects - sectors currently driving much of the nation's construction demand.

According to construction economists, interest in these models is growing not primarily for environmental reasons, but for financial ones. Rising landfill fees, transportation costs, and material shortages have pushed contractors and municipalities to reconsider how waste is handled at job sites.

"Circular construction is moving from an environmental concept to an economic strategy," said one industry consultant familiar with large-scale infrastructure projects. "Reducing disposal costs and material purchases can significantly affect project budgets."

Onate's work draws on operational experience developed in Colombia, where his company has implemented material recovery systems for construction projects since 2022. Those systems have been used in large-scale urban developments, including public space and infrastructure projects, and involve sorting, processing, and transforming construction debris into usable aggregates.

While regulatory frameworks differ between countries, experts note that U.S. cities face similar challenges: limited landfill capacity, public pressure to reduce emissions, and the need to stretch infrastructure dollars further.

Onate is scheduled to present his findings in Miami, Houston, and Los Angeles - three metropolitan areas experiencing rapid development and heightened scrutiny over construction waste and environmental impact.

Urban planners and sustainability officials say the next phase of construction innovation may depend less on new materials and more on rethinking how existing ones are reused.

"The question is no longer just how fast we can build," one planner said. "It's how efficiently we use what we already have."

As federal and state governments continue investing in infrastructure and clean energy, circular construction models - whether developed domestically or adapted from abroad - are expected to play a growing role in how projects are designed and delivered.

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