One of the key reasons that UK and European contractors achieve such high recycling and reuse rates is because materials are sorted and segregated as part of the controlled deconstruction process. I am sure that even the most dedicated explosives man will agree that sorting and separating materials is easier with the structure standing up than it is with it reduced to a pile of rubble.
And thanks once again for all your input and contributions.
Even if i'm from tiny Finland, i have to stand up and fight for the yanks! Mark, no offence, you probably already heard alot... But recycling and working safety has nothing to do with HRD excavators, it's all about choosing the right equipment for the job!
So why do they use to small or hazardous metods with ridiculous recycling % at demolition jobs? Price, money, cash, there is no difference if you are in Japan, UK, Finland or USA, if there is no €/£ or $ involved in the job, then the job will be done without skills and the waste will probably just "dissapere" somewhere...
As long as there is no limitations on who can offer and do demolition jobs, then this business will be a "playground" for big boys, with big enough tools or to small ones.
Also when you say that implosion demolition is bad recycling, so how does it make a difference if all plaster, plastic, wood etc is removed before the blast? Then you have a pile of pulverized concrete ready for the recycling crusher.
In the end everything has to do about money, if you get paid for taking a brick building apart with a hammer and chisel, then you can resell the bricks. In most cases the guy paying for the job just cares about how much it costs and that the trash is taken away.
i think Mr. London should go outside Youtube to the real world and see how things are done, then after that start writing again