The Construction & Demolition (C&D) industry is infamous for the environmental impact it can have, both from the emissions throughout the process and the waste products produced as a result. However, with efficient waste management, you can minimise your impact and maximise the quantity of materials that are properly recycled.

At ETM Recycling, we help people in the C&D industry to improve their waste management. From small business owners, to large construction companies, to skips for DIY projects, we help ensure waste is handled efficiently and effectively. In this blog, we’ll discuss what the legislation is for C&D waste management, how you can minimise your waste, and the benefits to your business for carrying out recycling best practices.

 

UK Waste Management Legislation for Construction

The primary problem with C&D when it comes to efficient waste management is recycling. While many of the materials involved in construction are typically recyclable, such as metal and wood, this isn’t always the case when it comes to collecting them. Treatments to the material or aspects of their production can mean they become hazardous, like how pre-’07 timber can’t be recycled without prior testing.

Find out more in our article on changes to wood waste regulations >

Tests for hazardous materials in C&D waste can be expensive, making them a tough choice for businesses. This can result in fewer recycled materials, leading to the high environmental impact of construction. Legislation on hazardous waste from the C&D industry provides a comprehensive overview of what is considered hazardous, and what the regulations surrounding it are, which can help you get a better view of the steps you can take to minimise the impact of your waste.

 

How to Minimise Waste on Construction Sites

The first step to efficiently managing waste is to reduce the amount produced in the first place. This reduces the burden on your waste management process, making it easier to more effectively handle any waste that does come through.

  1. First, consider reviewing material order quantities. While some surplus is needed to cover irregularities or mistakes, it’s important to not be left with excess materials at the end that may need to be disposed of.
  2. Second, utilise skips with regular collection. This makes it easier to keep a handle on how much waste you’re producing, and means it more easily enters the waste management cycle.
  3. Third, try to use recyclable materials. If you pay attention to the recyclability of the materials you use, you can ensure fewer hazardous materials make their way into your projects. At the end of the material’s lifecycle, it can then be recycled with ease, without having to go through rigorous and expensive testing and decontamination processes.
  4. Finally, on a similar note, using recycled materials can also be a great method of minimising waste. This is because you’ll be using materials that are already in circulation, rather than introducing new materials that will end up adding to the waste pile somewhere down the line. These recycled materials are generally cheaper, and may be able to be recycled further as well, making them a great choice for any construction project where having new materials isn’t a requirement.

 

The Benefits of Recycling Construction & Demolition Waste

There’s lots of ways you can improve the efficiency of your waste management, but all of them take time, effort, or money. You may be wondering: how does this actually help your C&D business?

Cheaper materials

By buying recycled materials, you generally pay less than buying new ones. Buying less materials with accurate estimating can also support this. As a result, you’ll end up with a greater margin for profits while also feeding into a more positive waste lifecycle.

Recycling your C&D waste will also lead to more abundant cheaper materials, as most often they will end up being repurposed and reused in the same industry, increasing their availability and potentially reducing their price.

Meet environmental targets

From biodiversity net gain to carbon emissions, there’s plenty of government mandates to worry about when it comes to the environment and the C&D industry. Better waste management means less emissions from extracting and processing raw materials, along with better environmental impact due to less waste going to landfill.

Better for the planet

Of course, it’s important not to forget why we recycle in the first place. To prevent climate change and to protect our natural spaces, we need to be sure we conserve what we can of the materials we use. C&D, even with these waste management efforts, is still an industry with a high environmental impact, so businesses should do what they can to have a positive impact on the world.

 

Sustainable Construction Waste Management from ETM Recycling

Whether you’re a construction company, contractor, site manager, or homeowner, anyone performing construction work should be aware of the materials they’re using and how they should be handled. By engaging in proper waste management you can cut costs, meet legislative requirements, and ensure maximum efficiency for your recycling process.

At ETM Recycling, we work with you to help you optimise your waste management. From providing skips to ensuring a smooth waste stream, we support businesses in the C&D industry with reducing their waste. To find out more, get in touch!

Learn about on-site vs offsite waste segregation >

Find out the benefits of a roll-on roll-off skip for construction >