One of the biggest contributors to landfills today is building sites. Construction sites use a variety of different types of materials, and the majority of these are sent directly to landfills. It is approximately 40% of all rubbish that comes from building sites, which equates to around 27 million tonnes in Australia. It is good news to know that after being sent to a landfill, 76% of this waste can be recovered and recycled.
The cost of removing mixed waste from building sites is continuously on the rise, and leaves the overall building costs to keep increasing. Landfill sites across Australia are quickly filling up, and it is anticipated that by 2032, Sydney will have run out of landfill space.
In a way to reduce the cost of rubbish removal and help reduce landfill, there are a variety of ways in which we control our building sites across Adelaide. There are various building materials that can be recycled and disposed of for money.
If we look at items such as metal, there are many recycling depots across Adelaide that will take scrap metal for free and give a small amount of money for the metal itself. This is one example of building materials that can be returned into some form of reuse in either the building sector or another area where they can be melted down and repurposed. The Adelaide City Council will take green waste at their depot behind the Adelaide Zoo and then use it as mulch, etc, for their gardens throughout Adelaide.
There are other building materials that can be sold or given to salvage yards for future projects. Items such as Old Red Bricks, Wooden Floor Boards, Doors, Windows, Skirting Boards, Appliances and Roofing Covers (tiles and iron). The benefits of this are reducing landfill and also resources, creating products that already exist.
What Is a Waste Management Plan?
A building site waste management plan should be scoped from the start of the project. The overall design of the building and how it will be positioned on the land are some of the early things to consider, which can minimise landfill and unnecessary energy consumption, which in turn lowers the build cost.
Some simple examples of thought-out planning are:
- Multiple material bins are on-site to ensure each type of waste is separated and recycled.
- Using recycled materials such as concrete for the slab, footings and paths.
- The use of natural light assists with heating and lowers electrical installation costs and utility costs.
- Installation of on-site water harvesting for all types of fixtures, which can be used with harvested stormwater.
- Installation of double-glazed windows and doors to minimise heat and cooling costs.
Using a builder who is willing to participate in the management of waste on a building site can be hard to find. It is a sector of the building industry that we believe needs change, and something we are passionate about doing to ensure a cleaner/greener building industry across all of Adelaide building sites.
If we look at what products are used in the building industry and break these down into various categories, you will see in the chart below that concrete products make up the largest waste materials on a typical building site, with non-ferrous metals making up the lowest because many contractors will recycle these before they get to waste.
Percentage Weight of Typical Building Waste Materials
| Waste description | Waste quantity (% of total weight) |
| Concrete products | 22.9 |
| Fines (particles less than 4.75mm in size) | 21.6 |
| Timber | 20.0 |
| Clay products (for example, bricks, tiles) | 8.8 |
| Natural aggregates | 5.6 |
| Ferrous metals | 5.1 |
| Plasterboard | 3.7 |
| Paper and cardboard | 3.2 |
| Plastic | 2.9 |
| Non-ferrous metals | 0.6 |
| Other materials | 5.6 |
| Total | 100.0 |
Source: Department of Environment & Climate Change NSW (2007)
The 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Another plan we implement on our projects is the 3 R’s method:
Reduce: Careful planning and ordering of materials helps to reduce the amount of waste, but also reduces the cost of materials and reduces labour and transport costs on the project.
Reuse: There are many things that can be reused on a building project. Items such as timber can be used multiple times throughout a project, and concrete pins and star droppers can be used for all types of tasks and then reused again on another project. Spoil from trenches can be taken to recycling depots and then reused for clean fill sites and garden beds. Many sites today are being built up with retaining walls, and the requirement for clean fill is high.
Recycle: Throughout the building site’s life, there will be large amounts of leftover materials which can be recycled either locally or interstate. Steel from the reinforced concrete can be melted down and reused, timber can be ground up and reused for mulch or firewood, and plastics can be melted and reused for other plastic-based materials. Rubber is another product that can be melted down and repurposed for other uses, such as safe flooring for playgrounds and other plastic equipment.
Sediment Control
When you look at the majority of building sites, particularly in the early stages, there is a lot of work done in the ground. When the initial stages of a building commence we there will be soil removed and potentially soil stockpiled for future use. It is important to have a sediment control plan in place. What a sediment control plan implements is the loss of soil during the project, and also the protection of our waterways.
Although this does not sound like direct waste management, it assists. By controlling soil loss at the building site, it stops public complaints, it minimises the need for future imported fill to be bought to the building site, it helps to reduce the effect of wet weather shutdowns during construction, and also the requirement of other remediation works further down the line, such as cleaning of contaminated waterways both locally and further down the line.
Leading The Way To Waste Control On All Building Sites Across Adelaide
At Mayfair Building Group, we are moving in a direction to help improve the building industry’s waste management on all projects, no matter how large or small the project or no matter what the location. Our company has a sound reputation for delivering projects in the CBD, Fleurieu Peninsula and Adelaide Hills.
With a constant eye for the evolving building industry, we ensure that our company stays ahead of the future, and this makes Mayfair Building Group a standout industry leader. Find out how we can work with you and make the waste from your next project go further.
Common Questions
Read questions we get asked about this topic.
What are the main types of waste generated on construction sites?
The main types of construction waste include concrete and masonry, timber offcuts and formwork, metal scraps including steel and copper, packaging materials like cardboard and plastic, and hazardous materials such as paints and solvents.
How can construction waste be reduced at the source?
Waste can be reduced by ordering accurate material quantities, using prefabricated components, planning cuts carefully to minimize offcuts, reusing materials where possible, and implementing just-in-time delivery to prevent material damage.
What construction materials can be recycled in Adelaide?
Recyclable construction materials in Adelaide include concrete (crushed for aggregate), metals (steel, aluminum, copper), timber (for mulch or chipboard), cardboard and paper packaging, and certain plastics. Many local facilities accept these materials.
What size skip bin do I need for my construction project?
Skip bin size depends on project scale. Small renovations typically need 2-3m³ bins, medium projects require 4-6m³, and large construction sites may need 8-12m³ or multiple bins. Consider waste volume, site access, and collection frequency when choosing.
How should hazardous construction waste be disposed of in Adelaide?
Hazardous waste must be handled according to EPA South Australia regulations. Use licensed contractors for disposal, keep materials in original containers when possible, never mix different hazardous substances, and maintain proper documentation of disposal.
What are the benefits of proper construction waste management?
Benefits include reduced landfill costs, potential revenue from recyclable materials, compliance with environmental regulations, improved site safety, enhanced company reputation, and contribution to environmental sustainability.