The construction industry is one of the biggest producers of waste in Australia. While recycling practices have improved over the years, the amount of waste generated has continued to increase rapidly, thanks to the booming building industry. We’re talking tens of millions of tonnes, every single year.
Those numbers are frightening, but the good news is that a lot of the materials used in the construction industry are recyclable and in some cases, able to be repurposed. For that reason, the future is promising… but can we create a zero-waste eco-system in the building industry?
What are some common building materials?
The building industry makes use of a huge range of materials, with varying degrees of recyclability. Some of the most common we deal with during a Sydney rubbish removal project are:
• Timber
• Metal
• Plaster
• Plastic
• Stone
• Bricks and rubble
• Soil.
All of these materials have a lifecycle, which varies from material to material. For instance, timber will begin its life as a tree and is then cut down and split into planks, and then in some cases, treated. It will then be used in the building process and many years later, removed when the structure is demolished. This is where the problem crops up – where does the timber (now waste), go?
Where does building waste go?
According to this report by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, in 2016/2017, 6.7 million megatons of construction waste ended up in landfills across Australia. That is a lot of waste and unfortunately, much of this rubbish and refuse could have gone elsewhere. For example, timber waste, metal, plaster, and even plastic can be recycled and repurposed most of the time… but the right facility is required.
This article from The Conversation investigates the viability of construction waste recycling plants and the obstacles that prevent them from being more common. These plants can process huge amounts of waste each year, turning materials like brick and rubble into filler for road bases and other building projects. Other facilities can process scrap metal, soil, treated timber, and plastics, and create hundreds of jobs in the process.
These plants will help to bridge the gap between the amount of Sydney construction waste that is created by the building and demolition industry, and the amount that ends up in landfills. Currently, that disparity is huge, and if it can be reduced, we’ll be going a long way towards creating a zero-waste economy for the building industry.
Did you know that a lot of Australia’s waste is actually exported to other countries?
However, it’s only since March 2020 that this process has been regulated. The waste that we export is commonly made up of plastics, including items that are produced by demolition projects and construction waste. Unfortunately, a lot of this plastic waste is simply incinerated, which is a horrific outcome for the environment, and for the people who live nearby.
Therefore, we need to take ownership of our own construction waste and ensure that it is reduced, reused, and recycled.
Creating a circular economy
The only way to truly form a zero-waste policy is to create a circular economy, whereby every single construction waste component is reused. If that is achieved, the impact on the environment would be extremely positive.
The benefits would include:
• Fewer natural resources required for new construction materials.
• Economic benefits for the construction and recycling industries.
• Less space is required in landfills and therefore, a more positive impact on the environment.
For this to happen, every single waste material must be reused or recycled. That takes a big commitment from builders, manufacturers, and local, state, and federal governments, to ensure the right steps are being taken. Without a collaborative effort and continuous research, zero-waste simply will not be a possibility.
This collaboration can include:
• Communication between building companies and state governments on waste measurement, and the feasibility of recycling facilities.
• Collaboration between large building companies and research bodies, such as universities, on the best practices for minimising and eventually eliminating waste.
• Commitment from all organisations involved to eliminating Sydney construction waste entirely.
It’s true that there will always be some waste materials that cannot be reused or recycled. However, this is where technology and innovative thinking can help, by finding ways to put these more difficult components to good use.
Working with a Sydney rubbish removal company
At Sydney City Rubbish, we spend a lot of time removing and handling Sydney building waste. We understand better than most, the ins and outs of efficient waste management, which then leads to better rates of reuse and recycling. If you’re dealing with building waste or demolition waste in Sydney, get in touch with Sydney City Rubbish today.
