Waste management (PDF - 348KB)

SDAPPSustainable Design Assessmentin the Planning Process10 Key Sustainable Building Categories7.0Waste ManagementBuilding design for a sustainable futureWhat’s included in thisfact sheet:Why do we need to change ourview of Waste Management?• Construction Waste Management inpractice.• What is construction and demolitionwaste?• What can be recycled and should bereused?• Stormwater management duringconstruction.• Operational waste.Green waste and compostingWhere can I find out more?Mandatory RequirementsCouncil’s Best Practice Standard.This fact sheet explains how simple design decisions can influence theamount of construction waste being produced and operational wastestreams being separated. Considering waste requirements during aproject’s early design stage can help you save money and reducenegative impacts on the environment. It will explain how the 3R wasteminimisation concept – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – can be applied toyour building project.Why do we need to change our view ofWaste Management?Up to 40 per cent of the waste goingto Australia’s landfills is related to theconstruction and demolition of buildings.Even more waste is produced duringthe occupancy of buildings and theproduction of goods that we consumeevery day. Poor waste practices andtreatment of the environment in the pasthave not only lead to a degradation ofour water, air and land resources butalso represent a big financial burden tocurrent and future generations.60%40%Therefore, it is becoming increasinglyimportant to minimise, separate andrecycle waste. This will lead to significantsocial, economic and environmentalbenefits. By reducing, recycling andreusing waste you can:• reduce the amount of waste going tolandfill• reduce emissions, pollution andcontamination• protect scarce resources• reduce overall construction costs• reduce tipping fees• sell salvaged recourses• contribute towards Council’s wastereduction targets for your community.

Construction Waste Management in practiceIt’s time we realise that waste is an asset, and not aproblem. Through informed design, alternative wastetreatment and effective resource recovery, money canbe saved at every stage of building development.Common composite of a buildingsite’s construction waste.WasteDescriptionPercentage oftotal waste(by weight)Soil 36Concrete-based16masonryBricks and tiles 16Timber 10Vegetation 3Metals 2Plasterboard 2Hard plastic 1Paper 1Others 13Total construction100wasteConstruction Waste Management in practiceThe most effective waste minimisationstrategies are those that have beendeveloped throughout a project’s designstages and have been agreed to by allparties involved.Building designers make the key wasteminimisation decisions, includingwhether an existing building will becompletely demolished or partiallyretained. They decide on the materialsbeing used and the constructionmethods to be employed.At the specifications stage, furtherdecisions about materials and theirhandling are to be made. Whichmaterials contain recycled contentsand can be recycled in the future? Arematerials and finishes durable and canthey be easily maintained? And, can cutoffsand packaging be recycled?At the contract documentation andtendering stage, it is time to develop awaste management plan that describesclear key performance indicators (e.g. totalminimum recycling rate). This is importantso that all tenderers factor best practicewaste management into their price.What is construction and demolition waste?The biggest impact on constructionwaste volume can be made at the earlydesign stage. Determining what extent ofan existing building is to be demolishedor reused is often a key design decision.Consideration should be given to a totallife cycle assessment of an existingmaterial or product. Of course, retainingor reusing as much as practicallypossible, should be the aim.Developing a Waste Management Planthat describes what materials will bereused on site or separated for offsiterecycling is a very effective way ofreducing waste going to landfill.Think about additional financialincentives for exceeding minimum wasterecycling targets. Consider selecting acontractor that has proven experiencewith sustainable waste managementpractices. Discuss a monitoring processto ensure your waste managementexpectations have been met.The construction stage is where allwaste management strategies areimplemented. To ensure that contractorsare able to meet described process andtargets, we recommend the following:• Allow for sufficient space on site toaccommodate not only new materials,but also different skips for differentwaste and recycling streams.• Clearly label individual skips and binsand protect them from contamination,rain and wind.• Organise regular pick up of skips andbins to avoid overloading or false useof containers.• Ensure sub-contractors are fully awareof the site’s waste managementpractices.• Make sure written contracts with tradesinclude waste minimisations practices.• Provide separate bins for householdwaste.• Ask suppliers to collect/recyclepackaging.As a rule of thumb, a minimum of 70%of waste (by mass) of all demolitionand construction waste should berecycled or reused. The table to theleft demonstrates what quantities ofmaterials are commonly disposed duringa building’s construction.SDAPP 7.0 Waste Management 05/12 page 2 of 4 www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Construction Waste Management in practiceWhat can be recycled and should be reused?Most construction and demolitionmaterials can be recycled. Often, it is justa matter of separating waste, either on-,or off-site and sending it to the relevantwaste stream. Many waste contractors arespecialised in this area and will be able toprovide you with detailed advice. Below isan overview of common materials and therelevant recycling/reuse opportunities:• Steel can be melted and reused withinnew steel products. Using recycledsteel reduces the embodied energy by72%.• Aluminium can be 100% recycled.Using recycled aluminium reduces theembodied energy by 95%.• Gypsum plasterboard can and shouldbe recycled as when it is disposedto landfill, it produces poisonoushydrogen sulphide.• Timber can either be directly reused orturned into horticultural mulch. If notrecycled, always specify sustainablysourced timber.• Concrete can be crushed and recycledas aggregate for new concrete orroad base and fill. Specify concretewith recycled aggregate in all viableapplications.• Glass can be reused as aggregate forconcrete.• Bricks and tiles can either be directlyreused or crushed for backfill,aggregate and gravel.• Plastics can often be granulated andreused to make new plastic products.Having recently moved into a new apartment buildingmade me realise, how easy waste separation can be.My kitchen joinery contains three bins (waste, recyclingand food scraps), our waste area is on my way outand bins are clearly labelled.Operational wasteDedicated storage spaces should beallocated for the collection and sortingof waste. These spaces should be easilyaccessible to all building occupants andbe in close proximity to waste collectionpoints.Bins or storage containers should beallocated to accommodate differentwaste streams including recyclablewaste, rubbish (non-recyclable waste),oversized household items, green waste,composting and small containers forhazardous waste, such as batteries andfluorescent light bulbs.It is important that storage areasare conveniently located within adevelopment and have been designedto accommodate space for signs andeducation material. Furthermore, simpledesign decisions, such as the provisionof in-built kitchen bins for different wastestreams and separate waste chutes(general waste and recyclable waste)in apartment buildings can make a bigdifference.Recycling bins should be sized andlocated to accommodate paper,cardboard, glass, plastics and metals.Rubbish bins should only accommodatecommon waste that cannot be recycledor composted and will go to landfill.Stormwatermanagement duringconstructionConstruction sites can represent agreat burden on local waterways. Sitelitter, paint, solvents, bricks, cleaningsubstances and clean-fill can allcontaminate stormwater runoff. It is anoffence under the Environment ProtectionAct to discharge contaminated waterinto the stormwater system. To avoidcontamination, ensure that a drainagesystem is installed before constructionactivities commence and storm wateris diverted from areas where soil isexposed.RECYCLABLESGENERALWASTEBATTERIES& BULBSGARDENWASTECOMPOST(FOOD)WASTEHARD WASTEBest practice waste separation inmulti-unit residential developments.SDAPP 7.0 Waste Management 05/12 page 3 of 4 www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Operational Waste Management in practiceGreen waste and compostingGreen waste includes garden waste,such as branches, prunings and grassclippings. Composting includes largelyfood waste and should, like green wastebe separated from common waste.Wherever possible, provisions should bemade for onsite composting of food andgreen waste at a project’s early designstage. Alternatively, contact your Councilfor detailed advice on green waste andcomposting services.Bear in mind that different compostingsystems have different spatialrequirements. So when designing a newhome or multi-unit residence, ensure thatcomposting of food scraps and possiblygarden waste can be accommodatedwithin the site.Composting optionsTumbler Compost Bin:food and garden wasteWhere can I findout more?Open Compost:food and garden wasteBokashi System:food waste onlyWorm Farm:food waste onlyMandatory Requirementsand Council’s Best Practice StandardEnvironmental Sustainable Design (ESD)PrinciplesThere are two levels of compliance whenit comes to ESD principles – mandatoryand best practice.Mandatory RequirementsConstruction Waste – to the satisfactionof the relevant local authority.Operational Waste – to the satisfaction ofthe relevant local authority.Council’s Best Practice StandardBuilding design should incorporatefeatures that take into account abuilding’s whole life cycle:200 Litre Aerobic Compost System:food and garden waste• Adopt a recycling target of at least 70%for all demolition and constructionwaste (by mass).• In addition, adequate facilities must beprovided to ensure waste separationand possible on-site reuse is facilitatedduring the building’s operation.Developments, which seek to vary fromthese best practice standards, mustdemonstrate how sustainable wastemanagement can be satisfactorilyachieved.Waste Minimisation Technical ManualYour Homewww.yourhome.gov.auGuide to Best Practice forWaste Management in Multi-unitDevelopmentsSustainability Victoriawww.resourcesmart.vic.gov.auDownload waste separation wallposters and bin lid stickersSustainability Victoriawww.sustainability.vic.gov.auTowards Zero Waste StrategySustainability Victoriawww.sustainability.vic.gov.auReducing Stormwater Pollution fromConstruction Sites, publication 981Environmental Protection Authority Victoriawww.epa.vic.gov.auAlso refer to Council’s website for detailson recycling, green waste and compostingservices.Other Fact Sheets in this series arealso available to provide guidanceon the 10 Key Sustainable BuildingCategories. For further information onWaste Management, consider the FactSheets entitled:• Building Materials• Stormwater Management• Construction & Building ManagementThis fact sheet is not designed to replace project specific advice from building designand sustainability professionals, Council does not take responsibility for any issues thatmay occur due to the facts and guidance provided in this fact sheet.