Establishing a waste friendly site

Don’t forget that good communication and collaboration are the key to successful waste minimisation!

Here are some helpful tips to help you set up a waste minimisation system and properly prepare your site before starting your construction or deconstruction project.

Be a tidy Kiwi

Making sure the site stays tidy is important, especially when space is limited. A well-managed and orderly building site can help prevent materials from being damaged or misplaced, allowing more efficient work. Keeping a tidy site not only saves on waste and costs, but also increases site safety as a bonus.

Be mindful when estimating and ordering

• surplus material is a big contributor to construction waste! So, take care to estimate exactly what you need. Start by planning for less than half of the typical waste percentage to avoid overstocking. Tell suppliers you are trying to minimise waste onsite so they can avoid unnecessary packaging. Ask your suppliers if they are willing to take back unused materials or off-cuts
• consider using standardised components and prefabricated products to minimise your waste. You could also request that product suppliers manufacture building components to your specifications to reduce off-cuts on site

Organise a timely delivery

• make sure to schedule the delivery of materials only when they are needed. This will reduce the time they are stored on site, and reduces the changes of wastage due to damage, unnecessary handling, or theft
• when installing fragile fixtures, it’s best to have them delivered and put in place closer to the completion date
• have a designated area for unloading new materials
• check quantity, condition and quality on delivery. Report any discrepancies immediately and send unwanted products back to the supplier
• don’t hesitate to reject inferior goods if their quality will result in additional waste. Send them back to the supplier
• report careless delivery staff to the supplier

Check your packaging

• ask suppliers to deliver in sturdy, returnable pallets and to retrieve empty containers when delivering goods
• talk to suppliers about how they can provide materials with reduced, reusable or recyclable packaging
• check that any packaging adequately protects the goods, keeping them dry and dust-free during storage

Enable clear communication and training

• include waste reduction instructions or standards in your contracts, in your induction material and other communications with staff and subcontractors. Make it a regular item on informal work meetings around the toolbox and project management meetings
• take the time to train your staff and subcontractors on the waste minimisation system during their induction and team meetings. Consider offering incentives to keep them interested through the project
• provide detailed drawings and instructions to staff to minimise mistakes, rework and temporary works
• develop an information sheet to explain the waste minimisation system or create a waste section in your regular induction information
• use clear signage around the site to explain the waste minimisation system. Some examples are:
  • using the hazard identification board
  • staff notice board
  • signage on bins and at the waste storage area
  • signs on site entrances
• keep a current list of recycling operators in the site office for easy reference. Use the REBRI waste minimisation plan to list the specific recycling operators’ details for the project
• Use the BRANZ Resource recovery map to locate locally based places where you can drop off unused or unwanted waste.
• put the waste minimisation record up on the site noticeboard and update it regularly to let everyone know about progress
• let people know who to approach if they have a problem, idea or other suggestion about waste

Think safety

• retrieving and cleaning many materials requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) - make sure everyone on site knows what PPE to use and how to use it
• you can find more information on the BRANZ Level website

Have designated centralised cutting areas

• have designated cutting or preparation areas for timber, joinery, cladding and tiling and store the off-cuts in a single location for easy access and reuse
• staff and contractors are more likely to reuse off-cuts if they are easily found and are stored separately from other wastes. Provide signage that the waste is for reuse, not disposal

Safely store materials

• determine where new materials will be stored to prevent loss from weather or other damage. Make sure materials are stored away from vehicles and driveways
• put signage up to make sure everyone on site knows where materials go
• store new materials separately from waste materials
• provide secure storage for hazardous materials

Dedicated waste storage area

• have a single waste storage area (away from storage of new materials) with clear signage on how to sort and store recyclables. When designating the storage area, consider space for loading and unloading containers, need for hoists etc. This may involve discussing possible requirements with property owners, neighbours or the city or district council
• provide separate bins, pallets or other containers for various materials
• ensure containers are clearly labelled. Use the REBRI On-site waste sorting signage kit
• make sure recycling containers are:
  • easily accessible
  • at the same place on the site as all the other bins
  • taken away only when they are full
• negotiate recycling paybacks with local resource recovery firms
• contact waste recyclers and arrange containers for waste and suitable times for removing these from site

Expect high construction standards

• make sure materials and products are installed as specified to enhance durability
• talk with suppliers about the latest methods for product installation and uses so that you can reduce off-cuts, mistakes and damage that all create waste during construction

Celebrate success

Have incentives such as morning tea shouts if waste reduction is achieved on the project to encourage and congratulate staff for a job well done.

Worker responsibilities for waste

Everyone involved in the project has an important role to play in an effective waste management programme.

All workers on a project produce waste for reasons including:

• mistakes
• off-cuts
• products that are damaged or off specification
• packaging
• temporary works
• building materials and soil from renovation, demolition and earthworks

The main building contractor is traditionally responsible for waste management on a construction project, but everyone has an important role to play in an effective waste management programme, including:

• all workers on the site
• bricklayer/tiler
• carpenter
• concreter
• electrician
• excavator/landscaper
• plasterboard fixer/plasterer
• glazier
• painter
• plumber/drainlayer
• roofer, cladder and insulator
• site manager
• steelworker

All workers on the site have a responsibility for waste minimisation

Good behaviours that promote waste minimisation:

• be aware of site waste goals and processes
• be committed to the overall waste minimisation programme and have a sense of ownership of the waste management
• undergo any training required to become familiar with the requirements of the programme
• understand how waste and recyclable materials will be managed before starting work
• be clear about the targets that have been set and why they have been set
• maintain a watchful eye over all activities to ensure materials aren’t used unnecessarily
• install materials and products as specified by the manufacturer
• reuse materials where possible
• store materials so they are not damaged
• find out which storage containers are used for which waste types and always use the correct containers for each type of waste. Report to the site waste manager if signage is not clear
• make sure waste containers are well packed but not overloaded
• take care to separate and recycle wastes as they’re produced to reduce double handling
• tell the site waste manager any ideas to further reduce waste materials