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On Site

Project managers, engineers, builders and subcontractors play a key role in achieving on-site waste reduction targets on a day-to-day basis.

On site waste reduction activities may include:

  • Ensuring appropriate storage to guard against product degradation or damage from weathering and moisture.
  • Requesting that suppliers not use unnecessary packaging.
  • Being mindful of over-estimating or rounding up when purchasing materials.
  • Purchasing prefabricated materials such as frames and trusses.
  • Arranging with recycling contractors to provide clearly marked bins for material separation.
  • Separating materials for collection and recycling.
  • Creating measures to minimise on-site litter and remove litter from the site, including airborne litter and litter entering the storm water system.

These tools and links provide information about on-site waste minimisation.

Identify where waste may be generated in the design, specification and purchasing phases as well as on-site.

Set priorities and measure your success.

These sheets are a practical guide for builders wanting to reduce construction and demolition waste.  Examples and case studies that outline current approaches taken by contractors and building-related organisations to minimise waste are also presented.

This website, from RMIT, is dedicated to construction & demolition waste minimisation. It contains case studies, online forums, web links and information resources about waste avoidance and resource recovery for this industry.

For More Information

Contact Sustainability Victoria by email or telephone our InfoLine 1800 35 32 33 (freecall Victoria only).


Top | Last updated 20/08/2008

Success Stories

Seidler Homes knows the value of minimising waste. After winning the 1999 Master Builders Association of Victoria Waste Minimisation Award for Housing, Seidler is set to save more money for clients and the business by being Waste Wise. Read more of the Download Building.pdf Building (140KB) success story.

Renovations are increasing in number as more people move back into inner Melbourne, raising challenges for designer builders like North Melbourne-based Urban Spaces. This case study details some of the waste reduction and material reuse strategies implemented during a challenging alteration and addition in the heritage-listed Glenard Estate. Read more of the Download Renovation.pdf Renovation (180KB) success story.

Fletcher Construction Australia's trialed its waste minimisation program, 'RECON', on the Dandenong Police and Court Complex (DPCC). Results of the trial revealed substantial environmental and financial savings in this $14.5 million project. Volume of waste was reduced by 15% and 43% less landfill space was consumed. Financial savings of 55% were achieved. Read more of the Download Building_Construction_Waste_Min_and_Recycling_Project_(1994)_.pdf Building Construction Waste Minimisation & Recycling Project (1994) (672KB) success story.