The Circular Economy and Waste Reduction.

The circular economy is working to positively evolve the construction industry through the transformation of building waste materials into valuable resources. This model helps you meet environmental standards, cut costs, and maintain a more organised site, ultimately benefiting your projects and the planet. Keep reading to find out how to prioritise sustainability, eco-friendly practices, and waste reduction in your next project.

Working to reduce waste going to landfill

The World Bank estimates that global waste generation will increase from 2.01 billion tonnes in 2016 to 3.40 billion tonnes in 2050. Australia contributes its fair share to this figure! As a country, we produce 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year. Of this amount, only 13% is recovered, and 84% is sent to landfills.

Landfills are an environmental issue in several ways. First, they release harmful gases such as methane and carbon dioxide as the waste decomposes. These gases are some of the biggest contributors to climate change.

Additionally, landfills are often sources of leachate. This is a liquid that forms when waste decomposes and can, if not properly contained, make its way into the soil and groundwater. This has detrimental effects not only on the environment but also on our health. 

Landfills also pose a risk to wildlife as it’s common for birds to feed from them. In doing so, they can ingest plastic and other inedible materials, which can prove fatal.

The circular economy is just one way that environmental organisations and the government are aiming to tackle the current volume of landfill waste and address climate change.

How we can reduce construction waste

A whole purpose of the circular economy is to reduce waste and promote recycling. It is a model that involves reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and repurposing materials and products to extend their lifespan. It aims to reduce the current culture of single-use products, which contributes hugely to landfill waste. 

Did you know that more than 40% of plastic is used only once before it’s thrown away. This plastic doesn’t ever fully biodegrade and instead breaks down into smaller pieces which can end up in natural ecosystems.

In practice, the circular economy aims to keep as much of a product’s materials as possible when it reaches the end of its lifespan, ultimately giving the product more value and reducing waste. 

A great example of recycled materials being used in construction is the Waste House at the University of Brighton’s City Campus. This public building is made from over 85% waste material that was taken from household and construction sites. While it may not be possible to have all of your builds be that sustainable, it just goes to show what’s possible!

A circular economy is a model that extends to all kinds of waste production, including construction waste. There are many different ways to recycle construction debris and implement sustainable waste management practices, including: 

• Packaging materials can often be sent back to the suppliers so they can be reused
• Bricks or concrete can be crushed and reused as aggregate for fresh concrete or for constructing new driveways
• Timber waste can be turned into mulch for gardens
• Plasterboard can be processed into gypsum, paper products, or converted into by-products like soil conditioners for agriculture.

The best way to reduce waste is to plan ahead. Order only the quantity you’ll need, and know what you can reuse on-site. 

How reducing construction waste can save you money

Planning ahead can make all the difference in saving money on a build. Keeping an inventory of all materials and items needed and checking this inventory on a regular basis can prevent you from needlessly buying more of what you already have.

The demolition stage of the project can be a great time to save money, reduce waste, and salvage materials for later repurposing. If possible, opt for a ‘soft strip’ demolition. Rather than tearing down the structure in its entirety, remove certain elements instead. This method makes it easier to be eco-friendly by repurposing materials while being cost-efficient for you and your client in the process.

Not to mention – the more waste you generate on-site, the more you’ll need to spend on waste management! Over-ordering raw materials, such as timber, often leads to excess off-cuts, which not only increases waste but also drives up very avoidable costs. By accurately estimating and managing materials, you can reduce waste, lower expenses, and ensure a more efficient use of resources.

Take a look at Enviro Waste’s recycling techniques and waste management solutions

At Enviro Waste Management, eco-friendly practices and sustainable waste management are at the core of all our operations. We aim to minimise waste where possible and contribute to a cleaner, greener more sustainable environment. 

We turn materials like masonry into valuable resources like crushed rock for slab backfills, which supports the circular economy model. In addition to repurposing construction waste in this way, we also offer various recycling solutions for your construction and demolition debris. 

We provide heavy-duty polypropylene bags to handle lighter construction materials. Separating lightweight debris into these bags makes waste sorting easier and maximises recycling efficiency. Our plaster recycling service gathers all your plasterboard waste into a dedicated truck which sends it to recycling facilities, diverting it from landfill. 

We’re always looking for ways to improve our methods so we can maximise waste recovery and recycling. We repurpose and recycle materials where we can so we can be kinder to the environment and pass those savings on to you and your client. It’s a win-win! 
If you want to learn more about our sustainable practices and determine whether our waste management solutions are the right fit for your project, get in touch now!