Construction waste
It is estimated that each year Construction and Demolition (C&D) industry waste contributes about one million tonnes – one quarter of the total waste stream – to landfill in the Sydney region. Much of this waste has the potential to be reused or recycled.
Construction and demolition waste includes:
- by-products from demolition, construction, repair, or refurbishment of buildings;
- soil or naturally occurring material (clean fill) excavated in construction activities; and
- materials like concrete, soil, rubble, bricks, asphalt, wood, wall panelling, metals.
Mosman Council has waste management requirements for construction and demolition projects to reduce the amount of C&D waste disposed of to landfill and ensure effective waste management. These waste management requirements support the principles of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 and are contained in Council’s Development Control Plans.
Waste management
Council requires a Site Waste Minimisation and Management Plan (PDF 36KB) to be submitted with all construction certificate applications. SWMMPs enable builders and developers to consider waste management throughout the entire life cycle of the development. Information to be provided in the SWMMP includes:
- type and quantity of excess materials to be generated during the demolition, construction and on-going use stages of the proposed development;
- how excess materials are to be stored and used (through either reuse and recycling) either on or off-site during the demolition, construction and on-going use of the development;
- how and where residual waste will be disposed;
- how waste generated by the use of the development will be managed.
Important information on fibro and asbestos for renovators and homeowners
The NSW Government has developed some practical information specifically for renovators and homeowners working with fibro and asbestos.
The brochure Fibro & Asbestos – A Renovator and Homeowner’s Guide contains a safety checklist, guidance on safe disposal of fibro and some general tips about what to do if fibro is damaged. It also contains a list of contacts and some useful websites for more information.
There is also a page with Frequently Asked Questions.
Waste reduction
Waste reduction can be achieved through:
- avoidance of unnecessary resource consumption
- resource recovery – reuse, reprocessing, recycling and energy recovery
- disposal
Waste production can be avoided by considering the resources that will be used in other stages of development, during the planning phase of development. If there is an existing structure on site, determine what components, such as fittings and materials could be incorporated into the new development. Using standard sizing, and designing for deconstruction rather than demolition can also avoid waste.
Building materials that cannot be reused on site can often be sold to recyclers. Materials that are commonly accepted for recycling or reprocessing include concrete, bricks, roof tiles, metals, soil, wood, vegetation, and cardboard. To effectively reuse and recycle materials from a development on-site separation is required and arrangements will need to be made with waste and recycling collectors. Disposal of mixed waste usually costs significantly more than recycling.
