Reducing waste in construction

Reducing waste in construction is now a significant focus in the industry, with environmental standards to attain, money to save, and reputation to gain. In this blog, we’ll look into the importance of reducing construction waste, the reasons for it, and how you can help to reduce site waste, because even small changes can make a huge difference.

The importance of reducing waste in construction

From environmental impacts to economic benefits and regulations, there are numerous reasons why construction waste reduction is crucial. Taking measures to reduce waste is a priority that can be great for your business and the environment. Let’s learn more about why this is so important.

Environmental impact

Reducing waste is crucial for the environment because it means less of it is sent to landfills. Unfortunately, the waste that’s sent there creates issues like water pollution from contaminated liquid seeping into nearby soil and groundwater, and air pollution as the waste breaks down. All this contributes to fewer carbon emissions, and every step towards improving climate change and reducing your environmental footprint is a win.

Economic benefits

With effective waste management, there’s plenty of cost savings to be had, from using fewer materials to reducing expenses for disposal of the waste, and general efficiency improvements. For example, streamlining production processes to generate fewer offcuts can lower material costs, and implementing better inventory management can prevent over-ordering.

Recycling and material recovery are other factors that fall into both economic and environmental categories, because they reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill and save you money that you may have spent on these recycled materials.

Regulatory and reputational drivers

It goes without saying that following local waste regulations is vital to avoid fines and potential legal action, but there are also many non-essential standards (e.g. ISO 14001) you can work towards that can boost your reputation and demonstrate your commitment to reducing waste in construction. Ultimately, this could help you win tenders or clients as they’re aware of your environmental efforts.

Reasons for construction waste

There are a variety of reasons for waste on a construction site, and it’s unrealistic to expect there to be no waste that goes to landfill. However, these include some reasons where efficiencies can be made:

Ineffective planning: When schedules, material needs, logistics, and labour aren’t aligned, it can lead to rushed decisions, rework, and, in severe cases, the use of incorrect materials. This also means there’s less opportunity for reuse and recycling on site.
Overordering: Whether it’s because of miscommunication or to cover any damaged materials, ordering more materials than necessary also contributes to construction waste.
Design changes: Sometimes, there are unexpected changes to a project, even when all materials have been ordered. This essentially means that certain materials are no longer needed and may need to be discarded.
Material damage: Accidents happen. But material damage is another core reason why construction materials end up in landfills. This could be caused by improper handling when materials are being transferred or exposure to weather conditions if anything is left uncovered.
Lack of storage: In some instances, materials aren’t properly stored, resulting in them becoming damaged or misplaced. If materials aren’t stored correctly, it can also make inventory management tough, increasing the chance of duplicate orders being made when not required.

Types of construction waste

There’s not just one type of waste in construction. Waste is usually split up into a few different categories, and they need to be managed differently. Some can’t be reused, others can. Here we’ll explain the main types of construction waste, where they come from and what can be done with them.

Inert waste

Inert waste includes materials like concrete, bricks, tiles, and soil. They’re usually non-reactive and non-hazardous, and do not decompose, allowing them to be recycled, or if that’s not possible, disposed of. If you’re looking to reduce your waste, this is the type where you can make the biggest difference, as they are safe to be reused.

Non-inert waste

This is waste that has the potential to cause environmental or health risks, usually because it can react with other materials, decompose, or may contain hazardous components (e.g. cardboard, wood, paper). Because of this, it’s crucial that this type of waste is properly handled so there’s no harm done to the environment, and any materials that can be recycled are.

Hazardous waste

This is waste that poses risks to the environment and human health. It can include asbestos, chemical containers, treated wood, and more. Waste that falls into this category requires extreme care when handling, storing, and disposing of it to avoid accidental release.

Tips for reducing waste in construction

So, what steps can you take to reduce waste in construction? There might be more than you think. Below, we’ve outlined six direct and indirect ways you can tackle waste management, whether through improved planning, effective recycling, or staff training.

Develop a waste management plan

A site waste management plan (SWMP) is one of the most common ways the industry tries to reduce waste on site. Essentially, SWMPs can set out a roadmap for:

Reducing, reusing and recycling materials
Identifying types and quantities of waste that will be produced
Assigning waste management responsibilities to individuals
Waste reduction targets and recycling rates
How materials will be stored
Waste segregation
The handling of hazardous waste

This supports more transparent processes, enhanced compliance, and improved monitoring, making it much easier for all workers to understand their role and responsibilities in reducing waste.

Plan orders

Accurate planning and ordering can save heaps of unnecessary waste. When this is done effectively, you’ll end up with little to no waste from overordering. If you’ve experienced this before, then it’s important to reflect on exactly what went wrong and what caused the overordering of materials, so you can make sure the same doesn’t happen again.

Consider deconstructing if possible

Depending on the project at hand, it might be possible to deconstruct parts of structures and reuse them rather than ordering more. This means you’ll produce less waste than if you demolished the structure completely and ordered new materials. It’s also an excellent way to save money on the project, providing the deconstructed materials meet requirements for reuse.

Recycle

Using the likes of segregated skips can help to reduce the amount of waste on site. By setting out the types of materials that can be recycled (e.g. steel, aluminium, copper, wood, bricks, masonry)and making sure there are bins and skips for these, you’ll be recycling more materials that might otherwise end up in landfill.

Donate

If you happen to have leftover materials, then as long as they’re safe and usable, they could be donated instead of sent for disposal. Whether it’s for community projects or reuse centres, there are options available that could give materials a new life — supporting a circular economy.

Training

Training is a fantastic way to educate an entire team on reducing waste in construction. Following training, staff will have improved knowledge on waste segregation, handling, and sustainable practices, helping them to make more informed decisions day-to-day.

Regulations related to waste management in construction

There are a number of regulations that encompass reducing waste that are worth looking into. Effective waste management isn’t just a nice-to-have. There are laws that dictate what the industry must do in order to reduce waste and take care of the environment.

Environmental Act 2021: Tackles improving environmental protection and resource efficiency by introducing targets to reduce waste. For the construction industry, it focuses on improving materials use, recycling, and reducing the reliance on landfills.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990: Outlines the legal Duty of Care for managing waste, making sure companies classify, store, transport, and dispose of waste correctly, through licensed carriers and authorised facilities.

Benefits of reducing construction waste

What are the actual benefits of reducing your waste on-site? Well, in fact, it doesn’t only benefit the environment, because it can be a win for you too. When you really make the most of reducing waste, it’ll boost your reputation and also save you money. Let’s see how:

Supports environmental efforts

With reduced landfill waste, there are lower emissions. Whether looking at it through a micro or macro perspective, reducing construction waste has environmental benefits on every level, from reducing pollution in the area of the landfills to contributing towards global environmental efforts.

Improves reputation

With excellent waste management and consistent levels of reduction, it can strengthen your bids on tenders, especially for clients that may be environmentally conscious. Overall, an impressive reputation when it comes to reducing waste can only be a plus for you and your business.

Saves money

Ultimately, the less you need to dispose of, the cheaper the cost of disposal. Not only that, but when planning and ordering are completed efficiently, you’ll spend less on excess materials that would otherwise go unused.

Order your materials today

Here at Complete Construction Products, you can place orders for the materials you’ll need for your next project. Why not browse our collections, including brickwork products, admixtures, formwork & concreting products, and lots more? If you need support in finding the right products or have any questions, simply contact us today and a member of our team will be happy to assist!

By Katie Taylor