If you’re in construction, demolition, or site prep, you’ve probably heard the term “C & D waste”. Maybe you’ve even had to deal with a few (dozen) piles of it.

But what exactly is it — and more importantly — what kind of equipment do you need to process it?

Let’s break it down.

What Is C & D Waste?

C & D stands for Construction and Demolition waste — the stuff left over after you build, renovate, or tear something down. That could mean concrete, brick, wood, asphalt, drywall, metal, glass, plastic, and more. It adds up fast and takes up a lot of space.

Unprocessed, it’s just a mess. But with the right equipment? It becomes a resource.

Processing C & D Waste: The Equipment You Need

Turning piles of debris into usable material (or easier-to-haul waste) takes the right tools. Here’s a quick guide to the essential machines used in C & D waste processing:

1. Crushers

What they do: Break down large chunks of concrete, brick, asphalt, and stone into smaller, manageable sizes.

• Jaw Crushers: Ideal for primary crushing of heavy-duty materials like concrete with rebar.

• Impact Crushers: Great for processing softer materials and getting a consistent, high-quality final product.

• Cone Crushers: Used for secondary crushing and shaping harder aggregates.

Why it matters: Crushing helps reduce volume, making disposal cheaper and recycling easier. Crushed concrete, for example, can be reused as base material for roads or foundations.

2. Screeners

What they do: Sort materials by size. Whether it’s separating fines from larger chunks or pulling out usable gravel, screeners bring order to the chaos.

• Scalping Screens: Handle heavy, bulky material right off the bat.

• Incline and Horizontal Screens: Offer more precise separation for final product sizing.

Why it matters: Clean, sorted material is more valuable — whether you’re reselling it, using it onsite, or sending it to a recycler.

3. Shredders

What they do: Tear through wood, drywall, plastics, and mixed debris that can clog up crushers or screeners.

Why it matters: Shredding makes lightweight or stringy materials easier to handle and transport, and preps them for further sorting or recycling.

4. Conveyors

What they do: Move material from one processing stage to another without the need for manual handling.

Why it matters: Boosts efficiency, reduces labor, and keeps your site moving smoothly — especially important in tight spaces or mobile operations.

5. Magnets & Air Separators

What they do: Pull out metal (magnets) or light material like plastic and insulation (air separation).

Why it matters: Separating contaminants improves the quality of your end product and prevents damage to your equipment.

Why It All Matters

The right C & D processing equipment helps you:

• Reduce waste hauling costs

• Create reusable or sellable material

• Stay compliant with environmental regs

• Keep your job site cleaner and safer

At Crusher Works, we provide mobile crushers, screeners, shredders, and support equipment built for tough C & D applications. Whether you’re clearing a job site, setting up a recycling operation, or just tired of paying to dump good material — we’ve got solutions that work as hard as you do.

Need Help Choosing the Right C&D Waste Processing Equipment?

Every job site is different. Give us a call or stop by — we’ll help you find the equipment that fits your operation and keeps your project moving.