Recycling Shipping Containers and Construction Waste As a Solution for Permanent Affordable Housing

Nancy Pham (University of North Texas)

Two of the current growing global setbacks pertaining building industries are lack of affordable housing and increasing landfill waste. Due to population growth and increased income inequality, affordable housing became more challenging which is creating unsustainable and insalubrious living conditions. This study investigates the possible relationship between the two seemingly unrelated issues and whether both can be combined to resolve the growing need for sustainable living. Across the United States, there is a shortage of over 7 million affordable homes while nearly 40 percent of 250 million tons of solid consumer waste generated annually stems from construction sites. Construction waste are salvaged, recycled and often reused for various independent use. Within the synergistic framework this study investigates the possibilities of complete replacement of virgin materials with reclaimed waste and shipping containers as a solution for permanent affordable housing.

Two single family residences were designed where one had all traditional building material and finishes while the other used shipping containers and products without any virgin materials. Both the units had same program and square footage but different design approaches. Comparative analysis based on construction and life cycle cost analysis suggests the affordability of the conceptual model and a sustainable alternative to the traditional design-built housing. This study also looked at the perception and acceptance level of this nontraditional approach of residential design. A small group of millennial participants were surveyed using Virtual Reality to form a subjective point of view as shipping containers and recycled materials are being used as the main elements of the alternative design.

It is evident that permanent and sustainable homes can be built using salvaged waste and recycled material that is affordable and desirable in modern society as well as reduce the amount of landfill overflow and destruction of virgin materials in the U.S.