Construction Waste Guide

Construction waste is any unwanted materials produced during building work and construction processes. The main kinds are inert waste, hazardous waste, and non-hazardous materials. This includes concrete, bricks, and stone, as well as broken equipment, glass, metal, packaging materials, and rags contaminated with chemicals.

It’s impossible for construction to happen without producing waste but it is possible to reduce the amount generated and limit the amount going to landfill. All construction companies are legally required to reduce, reuse, and recycle demolition and building waste before disposal.

What happens to construction waste depends on the type of material. Unfortunately, lots of waste from construction sites has historically gone to landfill. The likes of bricks and rubble don’t decompose so this is highly unsustainable. At Business Waste, we aim to keep all construction waste away from landfills.

These are a few more sustainable ways to dispose of construction waste:

• Recycling – materials such as glass, plastic, wood, and metals from construction sites are separated into their individual streams. These are then sorted, cleaned, and processed at specialist recycling centres. They’re turned into new materials and products where possible.
• Reuse – items such as windows, doors, pipes, and fixtures might be salvaged and reused. Rubble, bricks, and concrete are often crushed to create aggregate that’s then used to form new bricks and other construction materials.
• Treatment – hazardous waste type might be treated to remove any toxic properties before it’s recycled or disposed of responsibly. Certain items may be incinerated for safety reasons.

A construction site waste management plan (SWMP) details what waste is produced and how it’s managed. This includes information about bins, skips, and storage, their removal, and disposal methods. Methods to reduce and reuse waste and materials should be included. It can be drawn up after undergoing a waste site audit.

It’s no longer a legal requirement to have a site waste management plan, but it’s still incredibly useful for any construction site. A detailed SWMP can help reduce onsite waste by up to 15%, increase efficiencies and save money in the long run.

At Business Waste we’re committed to working with you to develop a site waste management plan tailored to your specific requirements. Your SWMP should contain:

• The contractor responsible for implementing the construction site waste management plan.
• Suggestions for how to prevent waste at the ordering stage.
• A list of expected waste types together with their EWC codes.
• Details of how the waste will be reused or recycled throughout the project.
• Information about the licensed waste carrier and how much waste you expect them to remove.
• Estimated savings achieved due to using the SWMP.

A waste audit for your construction site can help you determine how much waste you generate and ways to reduce it. Business Waste can provide a full site audit carried out by experienced industry professionals on your behalf. Your construction waste audit should do the following:

• Sort waste your construction activities create into categories.
• Record the quantity of waste in each stream.
• Look at the type and amount of waste generated throughout the different stages of the project.
• Identify areas and methods to reduce construction waste.
• Conclude and analyse the results.

DIY work can also create plenty of building waste at home, whether you’re constructing a new garden wall or making some interior improvements. Disposal of building waste such as bricks, rubble, cement, and plasterboard isn’t as easy as getting rid of or recycling domestic general waste.

Most councils don’t offer building waste collection for households or allow it in general waste bins. Household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) accept some building waste for disposal, but you’ll need to transport it there. Check with your local authority to see where you can dispose of building waste from your home.