Construction Site Waste Management

Reading time: 6 minutes

For any on-site project, no matter the size, waste materials will be produced. Not only will there be a need to dump any old materials, perhaps from renovations, but excess materials and packaging too. With this kind of waste, we have to look at best practices for not only disposing of rubbish, but also how to reduce it. 

What is construction waste?

The government’s definition of demolition and construction waste covers a huge amount of materials, which are classified as either hazardous or non-hazardous waste. There are also clear divisions between the types of building materials, which are sorted into the following:

• Insulation and asbestos

• Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics

• Wood, glass and plastic

• Bituminous mix, cold tar and tar

• Metallic waste including cable

• Soil, contaminated soil, stones and dredging spoil

• Gypsum

• Cement

• Paints and Varnishes

• Adhesives and sealants

Any of these can include hazardous and non-hazardous waste, so it’s always worth checking directly with the government site and follow any guidance by manufacturers or packaging and containers.

How do construction sites reduce waste?

With a greater need to consider sustainability and reduce waste at work we need to keep the amount we throw away as low as possible. In order to do this, it’s a good idea to assess the materials being used in a project, and old materials being scrapped. To explain this further, we can break this down into different parts of a construction job for effective disposal and recycling.

There is a legal obligation to ensure that UK construction sites maintain stringent safety standards. This includes effective management of hazardous and flammable materials, from storage to disposal. Best practice states that this should be worked out at the beginning of the project to avoid difficulties with logistics or last minute complications.

To find out more about personal and site safety, visit Trade Corner for advice and resources on industry best practice.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this page is intended as an overall introduction and is not intended as specific advice from a qualified professional. Travis Perkins aims to avoid, but accepts no liability, in the case that any information stated is out of date.