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
Bricklayer/tiler
- return over supply to the supplier, on-sell or donate to charity
- use appropriate mortar strength for bricks. Softer mortar saves cement and helps in recycling
- use second-hand bricks and tiles
- recycle broken bricks and tiles with waste concrete or use for hardfill
- keep tile pieces separate for reuse and make the leftovers available for art and craft work
Carpenter
- prepare accurate cutting lists before ordering and ensure that staff or contractors have a complete cutting list to allow efficient timber use
- measure twice, cut once to avoid mistakes and wastage
- keep off-cuts in a handy pile and use wherever possible before cutting new lengths
- have a single timber cutting area to keep all off-cuts in one designated bin or pile. Use appropriate signage to authorise staff and contractors to help themselves to off-cuts during the project
- use joinery profiles that can be easily and invisibly joined to reduce off-cuts.
- keep treated and untreated waste timber separate at all times. Clearly label each bin or area. Treated timber waste must go into the appropriate skip
- order premade framing and joinery to avoid off-cuts on site
- provide a dedicated bin or pile of untreated timber for firewood to staff, the public or charities at the completion of your work
- all other untreated timber can be recycled - check with recycling operators whether this includes MDF and other engineered products
Concreter
- order crushed concrete aggregate instead of new aggregate for sub-base, base course and landscaping materials
- use reinforcement made from recycled steel
- form up accurately and fine tune estimating. Up to 10% is often wasted
- return surplus cement to the supplier for recycling at the plant
- buy from plants that wash out cement to allow recycling of sand and aggregate
- break remnants into small pieces before final set to allow later use as backfill or recycling
- always form up a small area of path or low-grade slab ready to accept remnants
- store waste concrete separately from other waste for crushing/recycling. Use half skips (4.5 m³) if concrete is going to be taken off site for recycling. Otherwise store in a pile for on-site crushing
- reuse timber boxing and use timber scraps to make up boxing
Electrician
- order electrical supplies with recycled content
- double check the amount of material needed
- ask vendors to reduce the amount of packaging (pallets, cardboard, plastic shrink wrap, metal bands) delivered to the job site
- ask your vendors to take back non-recyclable packaging for reuse
- separate and recycle cardboard, plastic, metals and wire
- measure carefully to avoid end cuts
- use sub-boards and plan wiring to reduce wiring distances, quantities, waste and cost
- minimise the amount of spare wire at switch and plug points and metal plumbing at joins to reduce off-cuts
- measure twice, cut once to avoid mistakes and wastage
- recycle off-cuts with other metal. Strip insulation from wire prior to recycling
- recycle cable drums and reels or return to the supplier for reuse
- in a renovation project, check the quality of existing wire for reuse rather than assuming the building should be rewired
Excavator/landscaper
- reduce garden and soil waste by protecting trees (or have them removed for replanting) and minimising earthworks
- provide on-site locations for as much excavated rock, soil and vegetation as possible
- use asphalt paving with recycled content
- separate and recycle asphalt and concrete
- sell all marketable trees designated for removal. Grind, chip or shred other vegetation for mulching or composting
- separate stumps, brush and other timber waste for recycling
- separate and recycle rebar and other metals
- reuse removed crushed concrete and asphalt as aggregate, sub-base material or fill
- when remodelling older buildings, save finishes such as bricks
Plasterboard fixer/plasterer
- prepare accurate quantity and cutting lists before ordering
- plan carefully to reduce the amount of plasterboard required and the amount of unused off-cuts. Installing plasterboard horizontally can be more efficient (i.e. use less board and have less off-cuts) than installing it vertically
- have a single plasterboard cutting area to keep all off-cuts in one designated pile. Keep off-cuts clean and dry. Off-cuts of half a board or larger may have resale value
- install plasterboard with nails or screws rather than adhesives to assist deconstruction and recyclability at the end of the building's life
- return oversupply to the supplier, on-sell or donate to charities
- store clean construction plasterboard waste separately on site for recycling
- keep demolition plasterboard separate as it is more difficult to recycle and may contaminate the waste
- recycle plastic buckets or donate for reuse. Scrape out plaster first into the landfill skip
Glazier
- preorder glass sizes and premade windows and doors from the supplier to avoid producing off-cut waste on site
- order just-in-time delivery and store carefully to reduce the risk of damage
- separate construction glass from all other glass such as drink bottles and recycle
- return oversupply to the supplier, keep for use on the next job, on-sell or donate to charities
- recycle timber and aluminium framing separately
Painter
- order paint and other finishing products in bulk where necessary to reduce the amount of packaging required. For example, order one 10 litre pail instead of five 2 litre pails
- keep leftover paint for reuse where possible during the project or for use on other projects or donate to charities
- return oversupply to the supplier, on-sell or donate to charities
- clean out cans and buckets for recycling - make sure the paint has set hard in the container, scrape out and put the hardened paint in the landfill skip. Recycle metal cans with other metal types. Recycle plastic buckets or donate them for reuse
- do not tip paint, varnishes or adhesives down the drain, on the ground or into waterways
Plumber/drainlayer
- purchase plumbing and other mechanical supplies with recycled content
- to reduce waste and costs, only purchase the amount of material needed
- ask vendors to reduce the amount of packaging (pallets, cardboard, plastic shrink wrap, metal bands) delivered to the job site
- ask vendors to take non-recyclable packaging back for reuse
- retain PVC off-cuts for use as stubs for wall drains
- properly clean joints to prevent leaking
- measure twice, cut once carefully to avoid end cuts
- store materials so that they are not damaged
- plan plumbing and drainage to minimise pipe lengths where possible - group wet areas, use direct lines
- select pipe and duct lengths and fittings that fit the purpose but also minimise off-cuts during installation
- choose plastic products that can be recycled. Check the plastic type with local recycling operators
- recycle all metal, concrete and tile components
- store off-cuts separately and reuse during the project. Keep off-cuts for use on other projects
- return oversupply to the supplier, keep for use on the next job, on-sell or donate to charities
- recycle metal, plastic and concrete pipes and fittings. Store waste separately by material type
- prepare drain channels using recycled aggregate or broken bricks, tiles and concrete rather than natural aggregate
Roofer, cladder and insulator
- select products that can be recycled. Metal, brick, tile, concrete and timber products can be recycled depending on the finishing products
- preorder lengths from the supplier to avoid off-cuts from preparation on site
- store off-cuts separately and reuse during the project. Keep off-cuts for use on other projects
- return oversupply to the supplier, on-sell or donate to charities
- look to reduce the need for extra finishing and fixing products that create more waste. For example, have the roofing steel coloured by the supplier to avoid the need to paint on site
- store timber, tile, brick, concrete, insulation and metal waste separately for recycling. Keep treated timber separate from other timber types and dispose to the appropriate bin or skip
Site manager
- champion, educate, and oversee the programme
- be informed about what materials can be reused, recycled and diverted from the landfill
- coordinate the reduction, reuse and recycling activities
- coordinate waste management training for all staff
- ensure recycling storage containers are clearly labelled with the correct labels and are kept in the same location as waste bin or skips
- ensure that the labels on the recycling storage containers are waterproof and large
- provide feedback to all staff periodically on progress
- give encouragement to staff for a job well done
- provide large skips for recycling and a small bin for general waste
Steelworker
- order premade framing to avoid off-cuts on site
- prepare accurate cutting lists before ordering
- ask your supplier for recycled steel (most construction steel is recycled in New Zealand) or use second-hand steel members
- ensure that staff or contractors have a complete cutting list to allow efficient steel use
- use off-cuts wherever possible before cutting new lengths
Updated: 5 May 2025