How Can Australia Improve Construction Waste Standards?

Construction waste is filling Australian landfills at an alarming rate. Discover how significant this problem is, and learn how commercial builders can reduce their wastage.

How Bad is the Problem?

Studies suggest the majority of Australian landfills will be at capacity by 2025. That’s only 10 years away. As a major contributor to landfill levels, it’s essential that commercial constructors take steps now to reduce waste to slow the rate of landfill deposit growth. Australia’s construction industry recycles far less than European builders, and the gap between our recycling rates is widening. State governments have introduced landfill levies, but these seem more about revenue raising than reducing wastage, as the funds are not redirected into waste reduction initiatives. New recycling technologies have been suggested, but very little has been enacted. With governments doing little to act, construction firms must take accountability for their own waste habits.

What Can Construction Firms Do?

Construction firms can follow the lead of commercial builders like TPM Builders, which takes a number of measures to reduce waste. These include careful planning to minimise material surpluses, ensuring it uses everything purchased, and reusing or recycling wherever and whenever possible. If you want a greener commercial construction project, call TPM Builders at 1300 733 891.

What Are Construction Firms Already Doing?

TPM Builders isn’t alone in recycling waste where possible. The Value of Green Star, released in 2013, stated 42 percent of commercial construction waste went to landfill and just 58 percent was recycled. The growing popularity of commingled construction skips has seen the rate of recycling grow to between 60 and 80 percent on many local projects. However, there’s still much to be done. Evidence suggests that Australia’s commercial builders cannot continue to dump waste at the current rate and there is a burden of responsibility for individual construction firms to reduce avoidable wastage. ©Image via Flickr by nicolas.boullosa