The UK produces over 200 million tonnes of waste annually, and the construction industry alone is responsible for nearly 60% of that figure.
Successful planning of any construction project has always played a large part in whether the job returns a healthy profit, breaks even, or worse. In recent years, effective waste management has increasingly become an important, integral part of that planning. With the ever-increasing cost of waste disposal, it’s a good idea to plan to reduce your level of waste from the get-go, and there are various ways this can be achieved.
Start at the planning stage
Many construction supplies companies are actively engaged in reducing the amount of single-use or other packaging materials they use for shipping their products. Seek them out. It saves them money through a reducing waste bill and reduced shipping costs. And it saves you money, by less packaging ending up in your skips.
How you order materials can also play a big part in the overall reduction of waste. Modular construction is becoming an increasingly large part of today’s construction preferences. Such things as roof trusses and internal walls constructed off-site means they just need bolting into place by your site crews. The more modular construction you can incorporate into the project, the more you can save by reduced on-site waste production.
Waste Duty Code of Care
At One Waste Clearance, as a waste collection and recycling company, we are heavily regulated by the Waste Duty Code of Care legislation. This legislation covers all areas of the waste and recycling industry all the way down to you, as the waste producer. The legislation is designed this way in an effort to ensure all waste producers only have their waste collected and disposed of by licenced waste collection and recycling businesses. Failure to dispose of any waste in the correct manner can result in heavy fines for both the producer and carrier.
Build a Green Reputation
The general population is more aware than it’s ever been, of the damage being done to the planet from plastic and other forms of pollution. So much so, that a high percentage are now actively choosing to buy foodstuffs, clothing, and furniture goods from stores and shops with good green and eco-friendly credentials. This practice is also filtering down to the construction industry.
From high-end government contracts, where all contractors have to operate under the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), to small construction businesses with high regard for environmentally friendly construction methods. Often to a point where clients are prepared to pay a little more, if they feel the methods used are more eco-friendly, and helping reduce the planet’s carbon footprint.
Delegate waste management responsibility
From the beginning of the project, delegate one operative to handle all waste management. Waste should be divided into what is reusable (by you). What can go into the recycle bins, and what is disposable waste? Things like half-bricks can still be used in construction. Or if damaged piled up for hardcore. Two and three-foot lengths of timber can be cut down and used for noggins. If part of the job entails demolition prior to construction, have all reusable bricks cleaned and stacked. Likewise, reusable timber should be de-nailed and stored.
Use pre-mixed concrete whenever possible, and don’t shovel accumulated site rubble into your recycling skips, but store it in your yard, and repurpose it as hard core on upcoming jobs.
Help us to help you
With the UK construction industry responsible for 120-million tonnes of waste every year, unless we all become more environmentally aware, the voluntary status of waste reduction will quickly become legislatively driven. If you would like to discuss how best to reduce your waste production, or have any other waste related queries, please phone One Waste Clearance on 020 8685 9393.
By improving best practises from the planning stage, and repurposing as much site waste as possible, you can make on-site waste management more cost-effective, and your business more competitive.
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