Waste Managment For Construction In South Africa

Construction waste consists of unwanted material created by the construction and demolition industries. It is impossible for a construction site to operate without producing any waste but it is possible to limit the amount that ends up in landfill. All companies are legally required to REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE before disposal.

Construction waste increases the burden on landfill sites which are becoming increasingly scarce, and if waste is not managed correctly hazardous substances can cause soil and water pollution. It is crucial for construction companies to manage their waste responsibly in order to conserve the planets natural resources and minimise damage to the environment.

How can we reduce our construction waste?

Construction companies are legally required to manage their waste following the waste management hierarchy. This is where we reduce, reuse and recycle before we dispose of our waste.

Reduce

The first step in cutting the amount that ends up in landfill is to reduce the quantity that is produced in the first place. This requires careful planning. Here are some suggestions:

Improve procurement practices by avoiding over-ordering or ordering errors.
Don’t remove the plastic packaging from the materials until you are sure they will be used.
Reduce offcuts by using materials in standard sizes and quantities.
Order materials so that they arrive on site to match construction schedules. This reduces the possibility of them being damaged during storage.
At the end of each project, review the amount of waste generated and adjust future project acquisition accordingly

Reuse

Any surplus items or material salvaged from demolition needs to be stored properly, in a secure, weatherproof area. This ensures they will be in good condition when it is time to reuse them on future projects. It is also possible to sell on building materials via second hand forums such as gumtree, ebay or facebook marketplace

The most common reused materials are as follows