REDUCING WASTE IN CONSTRUCTION
Reducing waste is one of the big environmental issues for New Zealand in the first decade of the 21st century. Waste from construction and demolition (C & D) activities are a large source of waste which may represent up to 50 percent of all waste generated in New Zealand.
C & D waste has been identified as a priority waste in the New Zealand Waste Strategy 2002. This strategy has set a target of 50 percent reduction in construction and demolition waste being disposed of to landfills by 2008.
Builder responsibility to reducing construction waste:
For many builders, construction waste disposal is simply a necessary step and an unavoidable cost of doing business. Here are few methods to managing this stream of materials.
Efficiency: You pay twice for materials wasted on your jobs sites -- once for the original purchase and again when the usable material is hauled off for disposal. It's not difficult to find useful building materials "hidden" within the site waste bin.
Cost: Even though your disposal costs represent only about 0.5 percent of a home's total construction costs, consider that waste management costs could represent as much as five percent of your profit on a home. Waste reduction can reduce your material purchases; recycling can reduce your total disposal costs.
Marketing: As you begin managing your construction waste, take credit for being a good corporate neighbor and protecting resources. Let the buying public know that as you build, you are striving to protect the outdoor environment.
Liability: As a generator of some potentially hazardous materials--certain paints, solvents, adhesives, and caulks--it is important that you protect yourself from any potential liability resulting from the unauthorized or illegal disposal of hazardous wastes.
Without increasing cost, builders are able to minimize construction waste through Reducing, Reusing and Recycling their waste on the construction site, through improving waste awareness among employees.
Improving waste awareness:
Ensure everyone on site is aware of the importance of waste minimisation and understands how it will be managed – site staff buy-in is essential. Put a list of materials that will be re-used/recycled up on a site notice board and make sure all workers/contractors know about it. As well as explaining your waste minimisation plans before you start, builders can encourage buy-in by praising staff for a job well done.
Order and storing materials:
Order the right amount of material – over-ordering can wastes materials and money. Plan for ‘just in time’ delivery to reduce the risk of damage while the material is being stored on site. Plan carefully before you visit a supplier – getting everything you need in one trip, instead of making lot of small trips will save time and money. Where possible, use prefabricated materials and components, and ask suppliers to make components to the right size to minimise on-site cutting. Store materials properly, so they are protected from the weather and other sources of potential damage.
Reuse waste and Improves efficiency on-site:
Provide bins for waste that will be re-used or recycled, and make sure the bins are clearly labeled on each side, are in suitable locations (easily accessible for workers and collectors, but out of traffic areas), are picked up only when full, centralise timber cutting and provide a place for off-cuts – these can be re-used, provide a place for left-over concrete – this can be re-used, for example in driveway as a hard fill, keep the site tidy – this will keep site safe, as well as making it easier to find off-cuts or other materials that can be re-used.
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