How to separate waste at construction sites
In this guide:
- Reduce packaging waste on your construction site
- Benefits of reducing packaging waste
- What are the barriers to reducing construction packaging?
- Types of packaging used on construction sites
- How to eliminate packaging at construction sites
- How to reduce construction packaging by working with suppliers
- How to reuse packaging at construction sites
- How to recycle packaging at construction sites
- How to separate waste at construction sites
Benefits of reducing packaging waste
Why businesses working on building sites should make tackling packaging waste a priority and what the benefits are
Many construction businesses underestimate the true cost of packaging waste. The costs on your site can come from:
- Material purchase - the majority of packaging thrown away can usually be reused.
- Labour costs - don't underestimate the costs of handling waste on site. This includes time spent clearing up waste and collecting it into skips, plus the cost of transporting and placing replacement materials around the site.
- Waste disposal costs - the costs of skip hire, transport costs and gate fees at landfill sites are significant. Landfill fees are increasing as site operators recoup the costs incurred by stricter legislation governing what can and cannot be accepted for disposal and significant rises in the landfill tax.
- Loss of revenue - even when it is impossible to reuse a material on site, there is usually an opportunity to benefit from selling the waste.
Other business benefits of reducing packaging waste
Reducing packaging waste has a number of other commercial benefits for your business. These include:
- Complying with legislation - businesses that handle significant quantities of packaging have responsibilities under packaging waste regulations.
- Better procurement - if the main contractor is responsible for all waste, instead of each individual sub-contractor, a single improved level of waste minimisation performance can be applied to the project as a whole.
- Improved material specifications - packaging requirements can be specified in contract documents and material specifications.
- Enhanced management of the supply chain - improvements can be made at all levels of the supply chain through a general focus on behaviour and culture.
- Responding to stakeholder pressure - improving your environmental performance can help improve your business' image and reputation among stakeholders such as customers, the public, regulatory authorities, insurers and investors.
Environmental benefits of reducing packaging waste
Your business must make commercial decisions about how it handles packaging waste, but these decisions should have an environmental aspect as well. Dealing with packaging waste in an environmentally responsible way can bring a number of benefits including:
- reducing energy consumption to handle and process packaging waste
- reducing the risk of pollution incidents from the burning of waste materials
- reducing the amount of greenhouse gases, especially methane produced from landfill sites
- reducing the amount of leachates in landfill sites
- preventing environmental pollution from hazardous wastes
- reducing the need to produce packaging from virgin materials
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/content/benefits-reducing-packaging-waste
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What are the barriers to reducing construction packaging?
The main barriers to reducing packaging waste on construction sites and how these can be overcome
Many businesses have the perception that reducing packaging waste on construction sites is a time-consuming and costly exercise. In reality, many of the tools and techniques your business could use are actually very easy to implement with little additional cost:
- Waste separation only costs more if the sub-contract agreements with waste contractors are not negotiated properly. Mixed-waste skips are always more expensive than separated waste skips.
- When large amounts of waste are present, using a compact baler can reduce the amount of space waste occupies. If large volumes of similar recyclate are produced using a baler can even eliminate the need for a waste management contractor, for example plastic wrapping can be baled for the reprocessor to collect directly.
- The initial time and effort setting up your supplier agreements to minimise waste will pay for themselves over the life of your project with significant cost savings.
You should consider packaging waste as part of site waste management plans.
Educating workers about packaging on construction sites
One of the most effective ways in which your business can minimise on-site waste is to ensure that people working on site are always aware of how waste impacts on the project and its costs.
Appointing a waste champion can be highly effective. People who instinctively find waste unacceptable are ideal candidates. Or you could get creative - for example, appoint a crane driver as they have a good overview of your site, or a dumper driver as they visit all areas. Ultimately you will need to ensure that your waste champion is committed to waste reduction initiatives, and has the confidence to highlight areas for concern and point out examples of bad practice on-site without creating tension.
You can raise workforce awareness about on-site waste using a number of techniques including:
- talks that emphasise the need to be vigilant about waste at all times
- poster campaigns that can raise awareness and become a constant reminder about managing waste across your entire site
- signs on or near waste skips that clearly identify the types of waste that should go into each skip
- incentives to promote good practice amongst subcontractors
Once these measures are in place, it is important to monitor their effectiveness. Look at how waste is being placed in your site skips and whether site workers are separating it correctly. You can then update your training to further enhance the waste awareness of your workforce.
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Source URL
/content/what-are-barriers-reducing-construction-packaging
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Types of packaging used on construction sites
Different types of packaging, what they are used for and how packaging can be reused on construction sites
Packaging can take the form of:
- primary or sales packaging that protects and identifies the product
- secondary packaging that groups or binds more than one item together
- tertiary or transit packaging that protects the product during storage and transportation
You should be able to find opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle each type of packaging.
The purpose of construction packaging
To be able to minimise the waste packaging on your site, it is important you understand how and why packaging is used. This can help you work with suppliers to reduce packaging on their products and materials.
Packaging is used for:
- containment - plastic bags and cardboard prevent corrosion and condensation and, with primary and secondary cardboard packaging, minimise excess moisture
- identification - to show the product's function and to ensure health and safety issues are communicated to the user
- impact protection and avoiding rubbing and breakage - for example shrink-wrap, cardboard or polystyrene 'slugs' are used to minimise movement during transit
- securing products
- ease of handling
Reusing construction packaging
If packaging is used appropriately, there is no reason why it cannot be reused repeatedly instead of being thrown away. Examples within the construction industry include:
- timber or plasterboard pallets being taken back by suppliers so they can be reused many times
- identifying suppliers that use sustainable forests to produce their timber, cardboard and paper packaging
- compacting and baling paper, plastic and cardboard to allow easier handling on site and make recycling easier
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Source URL
/content/types-packaging-used-construction-sites
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How to eliminate packaging at construction sites
Practical tips on how your business can work to completely get rid of packaging waste at construction sites
At first glance you may not believe that eliminating packaging on your site is possible. However, once you understand the practical steps your business can take, you should soon be able to start making cost savings.
Steps to eliminate construction packaging
You can eliminate packaging in a number of ways. One of the most effective is to reduce unnecessary layers. These include:
- collation trays plus their shrink-wrap
- inner bags for carton board boxes with laminates
- packaging layers designed to protect the product from moisture or dust, where this is not an issue for the particular product
- layers within the packaging of standard electrical accessories
Other techniques you can use to eliminate packaging waste include:
- reducing the use of tapes and other adhesives in favour of interlocking tabs
- using in-mould embossing on products to remove the need for labels
- printing any instructions about the product on the box to avoid the need for a separate leaflet
- using plastic reusable boxes that you can return to the supplier when empty
- ensuring items such as sand and aggregate are delivered in bulk and not in multiple polypropylene bags
- investigating the use of silos on site to store products such as cement
- having any furniture delivered to site with only corner protection
Generally, you will need to work in partnership with your suppliers to eliminate packaging waste. However, each party should be able to benefit from cost savings and using resources more efficiently - see supply chain efficiency and environmental impact.
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Source URL
/content/how-eliminate-packaging-construction-sites
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How to reduce construction packaging by working with suppliers
Practical tips on how your business can engage with suppliers to help to reduce packaging waste at construction sites
Communicating with your suppliers is key to reducing packaging on your construction site. If you can get suppliers to remove as much packaging material as possible from the products you buy before they reach your site, each party should be able to make significant cost savings.
Engaging with suppliers on construction packaging
Suppliers may be able to improve packaging by:
- reducing losses during packaging production - eg using larger pack sizes to reduce the amount of packaging per unit
- reducing void space and fillers - for example designing products so that they don't require fillers, using air as a filler to protect fragile products such as fasteners or electrical components, removing the air from packaging to increase its overall rigidity and using cardboard wrapping for complex-shaped items instead of bubble-wrap
- lightweighting and downsizing - for example eliminating one or more layers, replacing large blister packs with smaller cardboard packs, eliminating any plastic film windows in packaging, not using hollow or double-walled containers such as plastic tubes unless absolutely necessary and strengthening materials overall to enable a reduction on the materials consumed
- reducing environmental impact - for example using reusable packaging, recycled materials, non-synthetic adhesives, timber, paper and cardboard materials that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and considering the use of waterborne pressure-sensitive adhesives as they are easier to recycle
- improving transport efficiency - for example choosing packaging shapes and sizes that can maximise the use of pallets, supplying products that are available in concentrated forms to reduce weight and providing products that can be delivered in returnable boxes or pallets
For more information on working with your suppliers, see supply chain efficiency and environmental impact.
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Source URL
/content/how-reduce-construction-packaging-working-suppliers
Links
How to reuse packaging at construction sites
How reusing packaging on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
For packaging waste that you cannot eliminate or reduce, the most cost-effective option - and the best for the environment - is usually to reuse packaging as many times as possible.
Structural packaging such as certain types of pallets, crates and sturdy plastic or cardboard boxes can be reused time and again. However, suppliers often feel it is not economical to collect them for reuse. If materials are being delivered in sufficient quantities to a site, vehicles making the final deliveries can collect packaging materials from previously delivered loads and return them to the factory or manufacturing plant for reuse.
Ways to reuse construction packaging
There are a number of other ways your site can reuse packaging including:
- repairing any damaged pallets on site for reuse if they're rated for multi-use - you must not reuse pallets rated for single
- using pallets that can't be returned to stack other materials or as curing tables for masonry
- selling pallets that can't be reused to pallet suppliers
- selling pallets to other businesses that could use them as raw materials in their products
- considering the use of old polypropylene bags for storing demolition waste
- using large sheets of plastic sheeting that arrived as wrapping for use on site as weather protection
- placing cut-offs of a product in its original packaging for easy identification and separation ready for recycling
- forming relationships with suppliers, contractors and waste-management businesses to improve overall packaging reuse
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-reuse-packaging-construction-sites
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How to recycle packaging at construction sites
Recycling packaging on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
Most of the packaging that construction work generates can be recycled and not sent to landfill. Some packaging for hazardous materials may need special handling, but even this packaging can be successfully recycled. Some of the main materials on your site that are ideal for recycling include:
- metals, such as aluminium and steel
- untreated and uncontaminated timber
- paper and cardboard
- plastics
One of the main barriers to effective recycling is that often only low levels of materials are produced. You may be able to remedy this issue by collecting waste products over time in clearly identified bins. Training and education about waste and recycling is vital to ensure you recycle the maximum amount of materials.
How to recycle construction packaging materials
There are a number of measures you can put in place that will maximise the levels of waste that you can recycle. These measures include:
- using the national colour-coding scheme for waste containers to ensure waste is separated efficiently
- contacting local recycling services for collection thresholds and prices
- arranging for pallets to be returned to the supplier
- using an on-site baler to compact paper, card and plastic so they take up less space and are easier to store, ready for recycling
- investigating the potential of a shared collection scheme to reduce costs and maximise recycling levels
- clearly striking through hazard symbols to show that containers no longer contain hazardous materials and can be safely recycled - however, you must ensure that the container is clean and any hazardous liquids or substances are properly disposed of
- using off-site manufacture and assembly of products - for example bathrooms - that will help to reduce on-site packaging waste
- sending any packaging that can't be recycled to a licensed Waste Management Contractor, who will be best placed to decide its destination
- considering composting paper or cardboard that does not contain any tape or adhesives
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-recycle-packaging-construction-sites
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How to separate waste at construction sites
How separating waste on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
One of the most important components of a successful packaging reuse and recycling system is actively and accurately segregating the waste your site produces. Educating workers is an important element of your waste segregation process.
National colour-coding scheme for packaging waste
To ensure that the maximum levels of packaging waste are segregated on construction sites, use the national waste colour-coding scheme. This segregates waste into a number of categories:
- asbestos - red
- gypsum - white
- hazardous - orange
- inert - grey
- metal - blue
- mixed - black
- packaging - brown
- wood - green
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-separate-waste-construction-sites
Links
How to recycle packaging at construction sites
In this guide:
- Reduce packaging waste on your construction site
- Benefits of reducing packaging waste
- What are the barriers to reducing construction packaging?
- Types of packaging used on construction sites
- How to eliminate packaging at construction sites
- How to reduce construction packaging by working with suppliers
- How to reuse packaging at construction sites
- How to recycle packaging at construction sites
- How to separate waste at construction sites
Benefits of reducing packaging waste
Why businesses working on building sites should make tackling packaging waste a priority and what the benefits are
Many construction businesses underestimate the true cost of packaging waste. The costs on your site can come from:
- Material purchase - the majority of packaging thrown away can usually be reused.
- Labour costs - don't underestimate the costs of handling waste on site. This includes time spent clearing up waste and collecting it into skips, plus the cost of transporting and placing replacement materials around the site.
- Waste disposal costs - the costs of skip hire, transport costs and gate fees at landfill sites are significant. Landfill fees are increasing as site operators recoup the costs incurred by stricter legislation governing what can and cannot be accepted for disposal and significant rises in the landfill tax.
- Loss of revenue - even when it is impossible to reuse a material on site, there is usually an opportunity to benefit from selling the waste.
Other business benefits of reducing packaging waste
Reducing packaging waste has a number of other commercial benefits for your business. These include:
- Complying with legislation - businesses that handle significant quantities of packaging have responsibilities under packaging waste regulations.
- Better procurement - if the main contractor is responsible for all waste, instead of each individual sub-contractor, a single improved level of waste minimisation performance can be applied to the project as a whole.
- Improved material specifications - packaging requirements can be specified in contract documents and material specifications.
- Enhanced management of the supply chain - improvements can be made at all levels of the supply chain through a general focus on behaviour and culture.
- Responding to stakeholder pressure - improving your environmental performance can help improve your business' image and reputation among stakeholders such as customers, the public, regulatory authorities, insurers and investors.
Environmental benefits of reducing packaging waste
Your business must make commercial decisions about how it handles packaging waste, but these decisions should have an environmental aspect as well. Dealing with packaging waste in an environmentally responsible way can bring a number of benefits including:
- reducing energy consumption to handle and process packaging waste
- reducing the risk of pollution incidents from the burning of waste materials
- reducing the amount of greenhouse gases, especially methane produced from landfill sites
- reducing the amount of leachates in landfill sites
- preventing environmental pollution from hazardous wastes
- reducing the need to produce packaging from virgin materials
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/benefits-reducing-packaging-waste
Links
What are the barriers to reducing construction packaging?
The main barriers to reducing packaging waste on construction sites and how these can be overcome
Many businesses have the perception that reducing packaging waste on construction sites is a time-consuming and costly exercise. In reality, many of the tools and techniques your business could use are actually very easy to implement with little additional cost:
- Waste separation only costs more if the sub-contract agreements with waste contractors are not negotiated properly. Mixed-waste skips are always more expensive than separated waste skips.
- When large amounts of waste are present, using a compact baler can reduce the amount of space waste occupies. If large volumes of similar recyclate are produced using a baler can even eliminate the need for a waste management contractor, for example plastic wrapping can be baled for the reprocessor to collect directly.
- The initial time and effort setting up your supplier agreements to minimise waste will pay for themselves over the life of your project with significant cost savings.
You should consider packaging waste as part of site waste management plans.
Educating workers about packaging on construction sites
One of the most effective ways in which your business can minimise on-site waste is to ensure that people working on site are always aware of how waste impacts on the project and its costs.
Appointing a waste champion can be highly effective. People who instinctively find waste unacceptable are ideal candidates. Or you could get creative - for example, appoint a crane driver as they have a good overview of your site, or a dumper driver as they visit all areas. Ultimately you will need to ensure that your waste champion is committed to waste reduction initiatives, and has the confidence to highlight areas for concern and point out examples of bad practice on-site without creating tension.
You can raise workforce awareness about on-site waste using a number of techniques including:
- talks that emphasise the need to be vigilant about waste at all times
- poster campaigns that can raise awareness and become a constant reminder about managing waste across your entire site
- signs on or near waste skips that clearly identify the types of waste that should go into each skip
- incentives to promote good practice amongst subcontractors
Once these measures are in place, it is important to monitor their effectiveness. Look at how waste is being placed in your site skips and whether site workers are separating it correctly. You can then update your training to further enhance the waste awareness of your workforce.
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/what-are-barriers-reducing-construction-packaging
Links
Types of packaging used on construction sites
Different types of packaging, what they are used for and how packaging can be reused on construction sites
Packaging can take the form of:
- primary or sales packaging that protects and identifies the product
- secondary packaging that groups or binds more than one item together
- tertiary or transit packaging that protects the product during storage and transportation
You should be able to find opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle each type of packaging.
The purpose of construction packaging
To be able to minimise the waste packaging on your site, it is important you understand how and why packaging is used. This can help you work with suppliers to reduce packaging on their products and materials.
Packaging is used for:
- containment - plastic bags and cardboard prevent corrosion and condensation and, with primary and secondary cardboard packaging, minimise excess moisture
- identification - to show the product's function and to ensure health and safety issues are communicated to the user
- impact protection and avoiding rubbing and breakage - for example shrink-wrap, cardboard or polystyrene 'slugs' are used to minimise movement during transit
- securing products
- ease of handling
Reusing construction packaging
If packaging is used appropriately, there is no reason why it cannot be reused repeatedly instead of being thrown away. Examples within the construction industry include:
- timber or plasterboard pallets being taken back by suppliers so they can be reused many times
- identifying suppliers that use sustainable forests to produce their timber, cardboard and paper packaging
- compacting and baling paper, plastic and cardboard to allow easier handling on site and make recycling easier
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/types-packaging-used-construction-sites
Links
How to eliminate packaging at construction sites
Practical tips on how your business can work to completely get rid of packaging waste at construction sites
At first glance you may not believe that eliminating packaging on your site is possible. However, once you understand the practical steps your business can take, you should soon be able to start making cost savings.
Steps to eliminate construction packaging
You can eliminate packaging in a number of ways. One of the most effective is to reduce unnecessary layers. These include:
- collation trays plus their shrink-wrap
- inner bags for carton board boxes with laminates
- packaging layers designed to protect the product from moisture or dust, where this is not an issue for the particular product
- layers within the packaging of standard electrical accessories
Other techniques you can use to eliminate packaging waste include:
- reducing the use of tapes and other adhesives in favour of interlocking tabs
- using in-mould embossing on products to remove the need for labels
- printing any instructions about the product on the box to avoid the need for a separate leaflet
- using plastic reusable boxes that you can return to the supplier when empty
- ensuring items such as sand and aggregate are delivered in bulk and not in multiple polypropylene bags
- investigating the use of silos on site to store products such as cement
- having any furniture delivered to site with only corner protection
Generally, you will need to work in partnership with your suppliers to eliminate packaging waste. However, each party should be able to benefit from cost savings and using resources more efficiently - see supply chain efficiency and environmental impact.
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-eliminate-packaging-construction-sites
Links
How to reduce construction packaging by working with suppliers
Practical tips on how your business can engage with suppliers to help to reduce packaging waste at construction sites
Communicating with your suppliers is key to reducing packaging on your construction site. If you can get suppliers to remove as much packaging material as possible from the products you buy before they reach your site, each party should be able to make significant cost savings.
Engaging with suppliers on construction packaging
Suppliers may be able to improve packaging by:
- reducing losses during packaging production - eg using larger pack sizes to reduce the amount of packaging per unit
- reducing void space and fillers - for example designing products so that they don't require fillers, using air as a filler to protect fragile products such as fasteners or electrical components, removing the air from packaging to increase its overall rigidity and using cardboard wrapping for complex-shaped items instead of bubble-wrap
- lightweighting and downsizing - for example eliminating one or more layers, replacing large blister packs with smaller cardboard packs, eliminating any plastic film windows in packaging, not using hollow or double-walled containers such as plastic tubes unless absolutely necessary and strengthening materials overall to enable a reduction on the materials consumed
- reducing environmental impact - for example using reusable packaging, recycled materials, non-synthetic adhesives, timber, paper and cardboard materials that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and considering the use of waterborne pressure-sensitive adhesives as they are easier to recycle
- improving transport efficiency - for example choosing packaging shapes and sizes that can maximise the use of pallets, supplying products that are available in concentrated forms to reduce weight and providing products that can be delivered in returnable boxes or pallets
For more information on working with your suppliers, see supply chain efficiency and environmental impact.
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-reduce-construction-packaging-working-suppliers
Links
How to reuse packaging at construction sites
How reusing packaging on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
For packaging waste that you cannot eliminate or reduce, the most cost-effective option - and the best for the environment - is usually to reuse packaging as many times as possible.
Structural packaging such as certain types of pallets, crates and sturdy plastic or cardboard boxes can be reused time and again. However, suppliers often feel it is not economical to collect them for reuse. If materials are being delivered in sufficient quantities to a site, vehicles making the final deliveries can collect packaging materials from previously delivered loads and return them to the factory or manufacturing plant for reuse.
Ways to reuse construction packaging
There are a number of other ways your site can reuse packaging including:
- repairing any damaged pallets on site for reuse if they're rated for multi-use - you must not reuse pallets rated for single
- using pallets that can't be returned to stack other materials or as curing tables for masonry
- selling pallets that can't be reused to pallet suppliers
- selling pallets to other businesses that could use them as raw materials in their products
- considering the use of old polypropylene bags for storing demolition waste
- using large sheets of plastic sheeting that arrived as wrapping for use on site as weather protection
- placing cut-offs of a product in its original packaging for easy identification and separation ready for recycling
- forming relationships with suppliers, contractors and waste-management businesses to improve overall packaging reuse
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-reuse-packaging-construction-sites
Links
How to recycle packaging at construction sites
Recycling packaging on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
Most of the packaging that construction work generates can be recycled and not sent to landfill. Some packaging for hazardous materials may need special handling, but even this packaging can be successfully recycled. Some of the main materials on your site that are ideal for recycling include:
- metals, such as aluminium and steel
- untreated and uncontaminated timber
- paper and cardboard
- plastics
One of the main barriers to effective recycling is that often only low levels of materials are produced. You may be able to remedy this issue by collecting waste products over time in clearly identified bins. Training and education about waste and recycling is vital to ensure you recycle the maximum amount of materials.
How to recycle construction packaging materials
There are a number of measures you can put in place that will maximise the levels of waste that you can recycle. These measures include:
- using the national colour-coding scheme for waste containers to ensure waste is separated efficiently
- contacting local recycling services for collection thresholds and prices
- arranging for pallets to be returned to the supplier
- using an on-site baler to compact paper, card and plastic so they take up less space and are easier to store, ready for recycling
- investigating the potential of a shared collection scheme to reduce costs and maximise recycling levels
- clearly striking through hazard symbols to show that containers no longer contain hazardous materials and can be safely recycled - however, you must ensure that the container is clean and any hazardous liquids or substances are properly disposed of
- using off-site manufacture and assembly of products - for example bathrooms - that will help to reduce on-site packaging waste
- sending any packaging that can't be recycled to a licensed Waste Management Contractor, who will be best placed to decide its destination
- considering composting paper or cardboard that does not contain any tape or adhesives
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-recycle-packaging-construction-sites
Links
How to separate waste at construction sites
How separating waste on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
One of the most important components of a successful packaging reuse and recycling system is actively and accurately segregating the waste your site produces. Educating workers is an important element of your waste segregation process.
National colour-coding scheme for packaging waste
To ensure that the maximum levels of packaging waste are segregated on construction sites, use the national waste colour-coding scheme. This segregates waste into a number of categories:
- asbestos - red
- gypsum - white
- hazardous - orange
- inert - grey
- metal - blue
- mixed - black
- packaging - brown
- wood - green
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-separate-waste-construction-sites
Links
How to reuse packaging at construction sites
In this guide:
- Reduce packaging waste on your construction site
- Benefits of reducing packaging waste
- What are the barriers to reducing construction packaging?
- Types of packaging used on construction sites
- How to eliminate packaging at construction sites
- How to reduce construction packaging by working with suppliers
- How to reuse packaging at construction sites
- How to recycle packaging at construction sites
- How to separate waste at construction sites
Benefits of reducing packaging waste
Why businesses working on building sites should make tackling packaging waste a priority and what the benefits are
Many construction businesses underestimate the true cost of packaging waste. The costs on your site can come from:
- Material purchase - the majority of packaging thrown away can usually be reused.
- Labour costs - don't underestimate the costs of handling waste on site. This includes time spent clearing up waste and collecting it into skips, plus the cost of transporting and placing replacement materials around the site.
- Waste disposal costs - the costs of skip hire, transport costs and gate fees at landfill sites are significant. Landfill fees are increasing as site operators recoup the costs incurred by stricter legislation governing what can and cannot be accepted for disposal and significant rises in the landfill tax.
- Loss of revenue - even when it is impossible to reuse a material on site, there is usually an opportunity to benefit from selling the waste.
Other business benefits of reducing packaging waste
Reducing packaging waste has a number of other commercial benefits for your business. These include:
- Complying with legislation - businesses that handle significant quantities of packaging have responsibilities under packaging waste regulations.
- Better procurement - if the main contractor is responsible for all waste, instead of each individual sub-contractor, a single improved level of waste minimisation performance can be applied to the project as a whole.
- Improved material specifications - packaging requirements can be specified in contract documents and material specifications.
- Enhanced management of the supply chain - improvements can be made at all levels of the supply chain through a general focus on behaviour and culture.
- Responding to stakeholder pressure - improving your environmental performance can help improve your business' image and reputation among stakeholders such as customers, the public, regulatory authorities, insurers and investors.
Environmental benefits of reducing packaging waste
Your business must make commercial decisions about how it handles packaging waste, but these decisions should have an environmental aspect as well. Dealing with packaging waste in an environmentally responsible way can bring a number of benefits including:
- reducing energy consumption to handle and process packaging waste
- reducing the risk of pollution incidents from the burning of waste materials
- reducing the amount of greenhouse gases, especially methane produced from landfill sites
- reducing the amount of leachates in landfill sites
- preventing environmental pollution from hazardous wastes
- reducing the need to produce packaging from virgin materials
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/benefits-reducing-packaging-waste
Links
What are the barriers to reducing construction packaging?
The main barriers to reducing packaging waste on construction sites and how these can be overcome
Many businesses have the perception that reducing packaging waste on construction sites is a time-consuming and costly exercise. In reality, many of the tools and techniques your business could use are actually very easy to implement with little additional cost:
- Waste separation only costs more if the sub-contract agreements with waste contractors are not negotiated properly. Mixed-waste skips are always more expensive than separated waste skips.
- When large amounts of waste are present, using a compact baler can reduce the amount of space waste occupies. If large volumes of similar recyclate are produced using a baler can even eliminate the need for a waste management contractor, for example plastic wrapping can be baled for the reprocessor to collect directly.
- The initial time and effort setting up your supplier agreements to minimise waste will pay for themselves over the life of your project with significant cost savings.
You should consider packaging waste as part of site waste management plans.
Educating workers about packaging on construction sites
One of the most effective ways in which your business can minimise on-site waste is to ensure that people working on site are always aware of how waste impacts on the project and its costs.
Appointing a waste champion can be highly effective. People who instinctively find waste unacceptable are ideal candidates. Or you could get creative - for example, appoint a crane driver as they have a good overview of your site, or a dumper driver as they visit all areas. Ultimately you will need to ensure that your waste champion is committed to waste reduction initiatives, and has the confidence to highlight areas for concern and point out examples of bad practice on-site without creating tension.
You can raise workforce awareness about on-site waste using a number of techniques including:
- talks that emphasise the need to be vigilant about waste at all times
- poster campaigns that can raise awareness and become a constant reminder about managing waste across your entire site
- signs on or near waste skips that clearly identify the types of waste that should go into each skip
- incentives to promote good practice amongst subcontractors
Once these measures are in place, it is important to monitor their effectiveness. Look at how waste is being placed in your site skips and whether site workers are separating it correctly. You can then update your training to further enhance the waste awareness of your workforce.
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/what-are-barriers-reducing-construction-packaging
Links
Types of packaging used on construction sites
Different types of packaging, what they are used for and how packaging can be reused on construction sites
Packaging can take the form of:
- primary or sales packaging that protects and identifies the product
- secondary packaging that groups or binds more than one item together
- tertiary or transit packaging that protects the product during storage and transportation
You should be able to find opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle each type of packaging.
The purpose of construction packaging
To be able to minimise the waste packaging on your site, it is important you understand how and why packaging is used. This can help you work with suppliers to reduce packaging on their products and materials.
Packaging is used for:
- containment - plastic bags and cardboard prevent corrosion and condensation and, with primary and secondary cardboard packaging, minimise excess moisture
- identification - to show the product's function and to ensure health and safety issues are communicated to the user
- impact protection and avoiding rubbing and breakage - for example shrink-wrap, cardboard or polystyrene 'slugs' are used to minimise movement during transit
- securing products
- ease of handling
Reusing construction packaging
If packaging is used appropriately, there is no reason why it cannot be reused repeatedly instead of being thrown away. Examples within the construction industry include:
- timber or plasterboard pallets being taken back by suppliers so they can be reused many times
- identifying suppliers that use sustainable forests to produce their timber, cardboard and paper packaging
- compacting and baling paper, plastic and cardboard to allow easier handling on site and make recycling easier
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/types-packaging-used-construction-sites
Links
How to eliminate packaging at construction sites
Practical tips on how your business can work to completely get rid of packaging waste at construction sites
At first glance you may not believe that eliminating packaging on your site is possible. However, once you understand the practical steps your business can take, you should soon be able to start making cost savings.
Steps to eliminate construction packaging
You can eliminate packaging in a number of ways. One of the most effective is to reduce unnecessary layers. These include:
- collation trays plus their shrink-wrap
- inner bags for carton board boxes with laminates
- packaging layers designed to protect the product from moisture or dust, where this is not an issue for the particular product
- layers within the packaging of standard electrical accessories
Other techniques you can use to eliminate packaging waste include:
- reducing the use of tapes and other adhesives in favour of interlocking tabs
- using in-mould embossing on products to remove the need for labels
- printing any instructions about the product on the box to avoid the need for a separate leaflet
- using plastic reusable boxes that you can return to the supplier when empty
- ensuring items such as sand and aggregate are delivered in bulk and not in multiple polypropylene bags
- investigating the use of silos on site to store products such as cement
- having any furniture delivered to site with only corner protection
Generally, you will need to work in partnership with your suppliers to eliminate packaging waste. However, each party should be able to benefit from cost savings and using resources more efficiently - see supply chain efficiency and environmental impact.
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-eliminate-packaging-construction-sites
Links
How to reduce construction packaging by working with suppliers
Practical tips on how your business can engage with suppliers to help to reduce packaging waste at construction sites
Communicating with your suppliers is key to reducing packaging on your construction site. If you can get suppliers to remove as much packaging material as possible from the products you buy before they reach your site, each party should be able to make significant cost savings.
Engaging with suppliers on construction packaging
Suppliers may be able to improve packaging by:
- reducing losses during packaging production - eg using larger pack sizes to reduce the amount of packaging per unit
- reducing void space and fillers - for example designing products so that they don't require fillers, using air as a filler to protect fragile products such as fasteners or electrical components, removing the air from packaging to increase its overall rigidity and using cardboard wrapping for complex-shaped items instead of bubble-wrap
- lightweighting and downsizing - for example eliminating one or more layers, replacing large blister packs with smaller cardboard packs, eliminating any plastic film windows in packaging, not using hollow or double-walled containers such as plastic tubes unless absolutely necessary and strengthening materials overall to enable a reduction on the materials consumed
- reducing environmental impact - for example using reusable packaging, recycled materials, non-synthetic adhesives, timber, paper and cardboard materials that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and considering the use of waterborne pressure-sensitive adhesives as they are easier to recycle
- improving transport efficiency - for example choosing packaging shapes and sizes that can maximise the use of pallets, supplying products that are available in concentrated forms to reduce weight and providing products that can be delivered in returnable boxes or pallets
For more information on working with your suppliers, see supply chain efficiency and environmental impact.
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-reduce-construction-packaging-working-suppliers
Links
How to reuse packaging at construction sites
How reusing packaging on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
For packaging waste that you cannot eliminate or reduce, the most cost-effective option - and the best for the environment - is usually to reuse packaging as many times as possible.
Structural packaging such as certain types of pallets, crates and sturdy plastic or cardboard boxes can be reused time and again. However, suppliers often feel it is not economical to collect them for reuse. If materials are being delivered in sufficient quantities to a site, vehicles making the final deliveries can collect packaging materials from previously delivered loads and return them to the factory or manufacturing plant for reuse.
Ways to reuse construction packaging
There are a number of other ways your site can reuse packaging including:
- repairing any damaged pallets on site for reuse if they're rated for multi-use - you must not reuse pallets rated for single
- using pallets that can't be returned to stack other materials or as curing tables for masonry
- selling pallets that can't be reused to pallet suppliers
- selling pallets to other businesses that could use them as raw materials in their products
- considering the use of old polypropylene bags for storing demolition waste
- using large sheets of plastic sheeting that arrived as wrapping for use on site as weather protection
- placing cut-offs of a product in its original packaging for easy identification and separation ready for recycling
- forming relationships with suppliers, contractors and waste-management businesses to improve overall packaging reuse
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-reuse-packaging-construction-sites
Links
How to recycle packaging at construction sites
Recycling packaging on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
Most of the packaging that construction work generates can be recycled and not sent to landfill. Some packaging for hazardous materials may need special handling, but even this packaging can be successfully recycled. Some of the main materials on your site that are ideal for recycling include:
- metals, such as aluminium and steel
- untreated and uncontaminated timber
- paper and cardboard
- plastics
One of the main barriers to effective recycling is that often only low levels of materials are produced. You may be able to remedy this issue by collecting waste products over time in clearly identified bins. Training and education about waste and recycling is vital to ensure you recycle the maximum amount of materials.
How to recycle construction packaging materials
There are a number of measures you can put in place that will maximise the levels of waste that you can recycle. These measures include:
- using the national colour-coding scheme for waste containers to ensure waste is separated efficiently
- contacting local recycling services for collection thresholds and prices
- arranging for pallets to be returned to the supplier
- using an on-site baler to compact paper, card and plastic so they take up less space and are easier to store, ready for recycling
- investigating the potential of a shared collection scheme to reduce costs and maximise recycling levels
- clearly striking through hazard symbols to show that containers no longer contain hazardous materials and can be safely recycled - however, you must ensure that the container is clean and any hazardous liquids or substances are properly disposed of
- using off-site manufacture and assembly of products - for example bathrooms - that will help to reduce on-site packaging waste
- sending any packaging that can't be recycled to a licensed Waste Management Contractor, who will be best placed to decide its destination
- considering composting paper or cardboard that does not contain any tape or adhesives
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-recycle-packaging-construction-sites
Links
How to separate waste at construction sites
How separating waste on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
One of the most important components of a successful packaging reuse and recycling system is actively and accurately segregating the waste your site produces. Educating workers is an important element of your waste segregation process.
National colour-coding scheme for packaging waste
To ensure that the maximum levels of packaging waste are segregated on construction sites, use the national waste colour-coding scheme. This segregates waste into a number of categories:
- asbestos - red
- gypsum - white
- hazardous - orange
- inert - grey
- metal - blue
- mixed - black
- packaging - brown
- wood - green
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-separate-waste-construction-sites
Links
How to reduce construction packaging by working with suppliers
In this guide:
- Reduce packaging waste on your construction site
- Benefits of reducing packaging waste
- What are the barriers to reducing construction packaging?
- Types of packaging used on construction sites
- How to eliminate packaging at construction sites
- How to reduce construction packaging by working with suppliers
- How to reuse packaging at construction sites
- How to recycle packaging at construction sites
- How to separate waste at construction sites
Benefits of reducing packaging waste
Why businesses working on building sites should make tackling packaging waste a priority and what the benefits are
Many construction businesses underestimate the true cost of packaging waste. The costs on your site can come from:
- Material purchase - the majority of packaging thrown away can usually be reused.
- Labour costs - don't underestimate the costs of handling waste on site. This includes time spent clearing up waste and collecting it into skips, plus the cost of transporting and placing replacement materials around the site.
- Waste disposal costs - the costs of skip hire, transport costs and gate fees at landfill sites are significant. Landfill fees are increasing as site operators recoup the costs incurred by stricter legislation governing what can and cannot be accepted for disposal and significant rises in the landfill tax.
- Loss of revenue - even when it is impossible to reuse a material on site, there is usually an opportunity to benefit from selling the waste.
Other business benefits of reducing packaging waste
Reducing packaging waste has a number of other commercial benefits for your business. These include:
- Complying with legislation - businesses that handle significant quantities of packaging have responsibilities under packaging waste regulations.
- Better procurement - if the main contractor is responsible for all waste, instead of each individual sub-contractor, a single improved level of waste minimisation performance can be applied to the project as a whole.
- Improved material specifications - packaging requirements can be specified in contract documents and material specifications.
- Enhanced management of the supply chain - improvements can be made at all levels of the supply chain through a general focus on behaviour and culture.
- Responding to stakeholder pressure - improving your environmental performance can help improve your business' image and reputation among stakeholders such as customers, the public, regulatory authorities, insurers and investors.
Environmental benefits of reducing packaging waste
Your business must make commercial decisions about how it handles packaging waste, but these decisions should have an environmental aspect as well. Dealing with packaging waste in an environmentally responsible way can bring a number of benefits including:
- reducing energy consumption to handle and process packaging waste
- reducing the risk of pollution incidents from the burning of waste materials
- reducing the amount of greenhouse gases, especially methane produced from landfill sites
- reducing the amount of leachates in landfill sites
- preventing environmental pollution from hazardous wastes
- reducing the need to produce packaging from virgin materials
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/benefits-reducing-packaging-waste
Links
What are the barriers to reducing construction packaging?
The main barriers to reducing packaging waste on construction sites and how these can be overcome
Many businesses have the perception that reducing packaging waste on construction sites is a time-consuming and costly exercise. In reality, many of the tools and techniques your business could use are actually very easy to implement with little additional cost:
- Waste separation only costs more if the sub-contract agreements with waste contractors are not negotiated properly. Mixed-waste skips are always more expensive than separated waste skips.
- When large amounts of waste are present, using a compact baler can reduce the amount of space waste occupies. If large volumes of similar recyclate are produced using a baler can even eliminate the need for a waste management contractor, for example plastic wrapping can be baled for the reprocessor to collect directly.
- The initial time and effort setting up your supplier agreements to minimise waste will pay for themselves over the life of your project with significant cost savings.
You should consider packaging waste as part of site waste management plans.
Educating workers about packaging on construction sites
One of the most effective ways in which your business can minimise on-site waste is to ensure that people working on site are always aware of how waste impacts on the project and its costs.
Appointing a waste champion can be highly effective. People who instinctively find waste unacceptable are ideal candidates. Or you could get creative - for example, appoint a crane driver as they have a good overview of your site, or a dumper driver as they visit all areas. Ultimately you will need to ensure that your waste champion is committed to waste reduction initiatives, and has the confidence to highlight areas for concern and point out examples of bad practice on-site without creating tension.
You can raise workforce awareness about on-site waste using a number of techniques including:
- talks that emphasise the need to be vigilant about waste at all times
- poster campaigns that can raise awareness and become a constant reminder about managing waste across your entire site
- signs on or near waste skips that clearly identify the types of waste that should go into each skip
- incentives to promote good practice amongst subcontractors
Once these measures are in place, it is important to monitor their effectiveness. Look at how waste is being placed in your site skips and whether site workers are separating it correctly. You can then update your training to further enhance the waste awareness of your workforce.
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/what-are-barriers-reducing-construction-packaging
Links
Types of packaging used on construction sites
Different types of packaging, what they are used for and how packaging can be reused on construction sites
Packaging can take the form of:
- primary or sales packaging that protects and identifies the product
- secondary packaging that groups or binds more than one item together
- tertiary or transit packaging that protects the product during storage and transportation
You should be able to find opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle each type of packaging.
The purpose of construction packaging
To be able to minimise the waste packaging on your site, it is important you understand how and why packaging is used. This can help you work with suppliers to reduce packaging on their products and materials.
Packaging is used for:
- containment - plastic bags and cardboard prevent corrosion and condensation and, with primary and secondary cardboard packaging, minimise excess moisture
- identification - to show the product's function and to ensure health and safety issues are communicated to the user
- impact protection and avoiding rubbing and breakage - for example shrink-wrap, cardboard or polystyrene 'slugs' are used to minimise movement during transit
- securing products
- ease of handling
Reusing construction packaging
If packaging is used appropriately, there is no reason why it cannot be reused repeatedly instead of being thrown away. Examples within the construction industry include:
- timber or plasterboard pallets being taken back by suppliers so they can be reused many times
- identifying suppliers that use sustainable forests to produce their timber, cardboard and paper packaging
- compacting and baling paper, plastic and cardboard to allow easier handling on site and make recycling easier
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/types-packaging-used-construction-sites
Links
How to eliminate packaging at construction sites
Practical tips on how your business can work to completely get rid of packaging waste at construction sites
At first glance you may not believe that eliminating packaging on your site is possible. However, once you understand the practical steps your business can take, you should soon be able to start making cost savings.
Steps to eliminate construction packaging
You can eliminate packaging in a number of ways. One of the most effective is to reduce unnecessary layers. These include:
- collation trays plus their shrink-wrap
- inner bags for carton board boxes with laminates
- packaging layers designed to protect the product from moisture or dust, where this is not an issue for the particular product
- layers within the packaging of standard electrical accessories
Other techniques you can use to eliminate packaging waste include:
- reducing the use of tapes and other adhesives in favour of interlocking tabs
- using in-mould embossing on products to remove the need for labels
- printing any instructions about the product on the box to avoid the need for a separate leaflet
- using plastic reusable boxes that you can return to the supplier when empty
- ensuring items such as sand and aggregate are delivered in bulk and not in multiple polypropylene bags
- investigating the use of silos on site to store products such as cement
- having any furniture delivered to site with only corner protection
Generally, you will need to work in partnership with your suppliers to eliminate packaging waste. However, each party should be able to benefit from cost savings and using resources more efficiently - see supply chain efficiency and environmental impact.
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-eliminate-packaging-construction-sites
Links
How to reduce construction packaging by working with suppliers
Practical tips on how your business can engage with suppliers to help to reduce packaging waste at construction sites
Communicating with your suppliers is key to reducing packaging on your construction site. If you can get suppliers to remove as much packaging material as possible from the products you buy before they reach your site, each party should be able to make significant cost savings.
Engaging with suppliers on construction packaging
Suppliers may be able to improve packaging by:
- reducing losses during packaging production - eg using larger pack sizes to reduce the amount of packaging per unit
- reducing void space and fillers - for example designing products so that they don't require fillers, using air as a filler to protect fragile products such as fasteners or electrical components, removing the air from packaging to increase its overall rigidity and using cardboard wrapping for complex-shaped items instead of bubble-wrap
- lightweighting and downsizing - for example eliminating one or more layers, replacing large blister packs with smaller cardboard packs, eliminating any plastic film windows in packaging, not using hollow or double-walled containers such as plastic tubes unless absolutely necessary and strengthening materials overall to enable a reduction on the materials consumed
- reducing environmental impact - for example using reusable packaging, recycled materials, non-synthetic adhesives, timber, paper and cardboard materials that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and considering the use of waterborne pressure-sensitive adhesives as they are easier to recycle
- improving transport efficiency - for example choosing packaging shapes and sizes that can maximise the use of pallets, supplying products that are available in concentrated forms to reduce weight and providing products that can be delivered in returnable boxes or pallets
For more information on working with your suppliers, see supply chain efficiency and environmental impact.
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-reduce-construction-packaging-working-suppliers
Links
How to reuse packaging at construction sites
How reusing packaging on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
For packaging waste that you cannot eliminate or reduce, the most cost-effective option - and the best for the environment - is usually to reuse packaging as many times as possible.
Structural packaging such as certain types of pallets, crates and sturdy plastic or cardboard boxes can be reused time and again. However, suppliers often feel it is not economical to collect them for reuse. If materials are being delivered in sufficient quantities to a site, vehicles making the final deliveries can collect packaging materials from previously delivered loads and return them to the factory or manufacturing plant for reuse.
Ways to reuse construction packaging
There are a number of other ways your site can reuse packaging including:
- repairing any damaged pallets on site for reuse if they're rated for multi-use - you must not reuse pallets rated for single
- using pallets that can't be returned to stack other materials or as curing tables for masonry
- selling pallets that can't be reused to pallet suppliers
- selling pallets to other businesses that could use them as raw materials in their products
- considering the use of old polypropylene bags for storing demolition waste
- using large sheets of plastic sheeting that arrived as wrapping for use on site as weather protection
- placing cut-offs of a product in its original packaging for easy identification and separation ready for recycling
- forming relationships with suppliers, contractors and waste-management businesses to improve overall packaging reuse
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-reuse-packaging-construction-sites
Links
How to recycle packaging at construction sites
Recycling packaging on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
Most of the packaging that construction work generates can be recycled and not sent to landfill. Some packaging for hazardous materials may need special handling, but even this packaging can be successfully recycled. Some of the main materials on your site that are ideal for recycling include:
- metals, such as aluminium and steel
- untreated and uncontaminated timber
- paper and cardboard
- plastics
One of the main barriers to effective recycling is that often only low levels of materials are produced. You may be able to remedy this issue by collecting waste products over time in clearly identified bins. Training and education about waste and recycling is vital to ensure you recycle the maximum amount of materials.
How to recycle construction packaging materials
There are a number of measures you can put in place that will maximise the levels of waste that you can recycle. These measures include:
- using the national colour-coding scheme for waste containers to ensure waste is separated efficiently
- contacting local recycling services for collection thresholds and prices
- arranging for pallets to be returned to the supplier
- using an on-site baler to compact paper, card and plastic so they take up less space and are easier to store, ready for recycling
- investigating the potential of a shared collection scheme to reduce costs and maximise recycling levels
- clearly striking through hazard symbols to show that containers no longer contain hazardous materials and can be safely recycled - however, you must ensure that the container is clean and any hazardous liquids or substances are properly disposed of
- using off-site manufacture and assembly of products - for example bathrooms - that will help to reduce on-site packaging waste
- sending any packaging that can't be recycled to a licensed Waste Management Contractor, who will be best placed to decide its destination
- considering composting paper or cardboard that does not contain any tape or adhesives
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-recycle-packaging-construction-sites
Links
How to separate waste at construction sites
How separating waste on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
One of the most important components of a successful packaging reuse and recycling system is actively and accurately segregating the waste your site produces. Educating workers is an important element of your waste segregation process.
National colour-coding scheme for packaging waste
To ensure that the maximum levels of packaging waste are segregated on construction sites, use the national waste colour-coding scheme. This segregates waste into a number of categories:
- asbestos - red
- gypsum - white
- hazardous - orange
- inert - grey
- metal - blue
- mixed - black
- packaging - brown
- wood - green
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-separate-waste-construction-sites
Links
Benefits of reducing packaging waste
In this guide:
- Reduce packaging waste on your construction site
- Benefits of reducing packaging waste
- What are the barriers to reducing construction packaging?
- Types of packaging used on construction sites
- How to eliminate packaging at construction sites
- How to reduce construction packaging by working with suppliers
- How to reuse packaging at construction sites
- How to recycle packaging at construction sites
- How to separate waste at construction sites
Benefits of reducing packaging waste
Why businesses working on building sites should make tackling packaging waste a priority and what the benefits are
Many construction businesses underestimate the true cost of packaging waste. The costs on your site can come from:
- Material purchase - the majority of packaging thrown away can usually be reused.
- Labour costs - don't underestimate the costs of handling waste on site. This includes time spent clearing up waste and collecting it into skips, plus the cost of transporting and placing replacement materials around the site.
- Waste disposal costs - the costs of skip hire, transport costs and gate fees at landfill sites are significant. Landfill fees are increasing as site operators recoup the costs incurred by stricter legislation governing what can and cannot be accepted for disposal and significant rises in the landfill tax.
- Loss of revenue - even when it is impossible to reuse a material on site, there is usually an opportunity to benefit from selling the waste.
Other business benefits of reducing packaging waste
Reducing packaging waste has a number of other commercial benefits for your business. These include:
- Complying with legislation - businesses that handle significant quantities of packaging have responsibilities under packaging waste regulations.
- Better procurement - if the main contractor is responsible for all waste, instead of each individual sub-contractor, a single improved level of waste minimisation performance can be applied to the project as a whole.
- Improved material specifications - packaging requirements can be specified in contract documents and material specifications.
- Enhanced management of the supply chain - improvements can be made at all levels of the supply chain through a general focus on behaviour and culture.
- Responding to stakeholder pressure - improving your environmental performance can help improve your business' image and reputation among stakeholders such as customers, the public, regulatory authorities, insurers and investors.
Environmental benefits of reducing packaging waste
Your business must make commercial decisions about how it handles packaging waste, but these decisions should have an environmental aspect as well. Dealing with packaging waste in an environmentally responsible way can bring a number of benefits including:
- reducing energy consumption to handle and process packaging waste
- reducing the risk of pollution incidents from the burning of waste materials
- reducing the amount of greenhouse gases, especially methane produced from landfill sites
- reducing the amount of leachates in landfill sites
- preventing environmental pollution from hazardous wastes
- reducing the need to produce packaging from virgin materials
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/benefits-reducing-packaging-waste
Links
What are the barriers to reducing construction packaging?
The main barriers to reducing packaging waste on construction sites and how these can be overcome
Many businesses have the perception that reducing packaging waste on construction sites is a time-consuming and costly exercise. In reality, many of the tools and techniques your business could use are actually very easy to implement with little additional cost:
- Waste separation only costs more if the sub-contract agreements with waste contractors are not negotiated properly. Mixed-waste skips are always more expensive than separated waste skips.
- When large amounts of waste are present, using a compact baler can reduce the amount of space waste occupies. If large volumes of similar recyclate are produced using a baler can even eliminate the need for a waste management contractor, for example plastic wrapping can be baled for the reprocessor to collect directly.
- The initial time and effort setting up your supplier agreements to minimise waste will pay for themselves over the life of your project with significant cost savings.
You should consider packaging waste as part of site waste management plans.
Educating workers about packaging on construction sites
One of the most effective ways in which your business can minimise on-site waste is to ensure that people working on site are always aware of how waste impacts on the project and its costs.
Appointing a waste champion can be highly effective. People who instinctively find waste unacceptable are ideal candidates. Or you could get creative - for example, appoint a crane driver as they have a good overview of your site, or a dumper driver as they visit all areas. Ultimately you will need to ensure that your waste champion is committed to waste reduction initiatives, and has the confidence to highlight areas for concern and point out examples of bad practice on-site without creating tension.
You can raise workforce awareness about on-site waste using a number of techniques including:
- talks that emphasise the need to be vigilant about waste at all times
- poster campaigns that can raise awareness and become a constant reminder about managing waste across your entire site
- signs on or near waste skips that clearly identify the types of waste that should go into each skip
- incentives to promote good practice amongst subcontractors
Once these measures are in place, it is important to monitor their effectiveness. Look at how waste is being placed in your site skips and whether site workers are separating it correctly. You can then update your training to further enhance the waste awareness of your workforce.
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/what-are-barriers-reducing-construction-packaging
Links
Types of packaging used on construction sites
Different types of packaging, what they are used for and how packaging can be reused on construction sites
Packaging can take the form of:
- primary or sales packaging that protects and identifies the product
- secondary packaging that groups or binds more than one item together
- tertiary or transit packaging that protects the product during storage and transportation
You should be able to find opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle each type of packaging.
The purpose of construction packaging
To be able to minimise the waste packaging on your site, it is important you understand how and why packaging is used. This can help you work with suppliers to reduce packaging on their products and materials.
Packaging is used for:
- containment - plastic bags and cardboard prevent corrosion and condensation and, with primary and secondary cardboard packaging, minimise excess moisture
- identification - to show the product's function and to ensure health and safety issues are communicated to the user
- impact protection and avoiding rubbing and breakage - for example shrink-wrap, cardboard or polystyrene 'slugs' are used to minimise movement during transit
- securing products
- ease of handling
Reusing construction packaging
If packaging is used appropriately, there is no reason why it cannot be reused repeatedly instead of being thrown away. Examples within the construction industry include:
- timber or plasterboard pallets being taken back by suppliers so they can be reused many times
- identifying suppliers that use sustainable forests to produce their timber, cardboard and paper packaging
- compacting and baling paper, plastic and cardboard to allow easier handling on site and make recycling easier
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/types-packaging-used-construction-sites
Links
How to eliminate packaging at construction sites
Practical tips on how your business can work to completely get rid of packaging waste at construction sites
At first glance you may not believe that eliminating packaging on your site is possible. However, once you understand the practical steps your business can take, you should soon be able to start making cost savings.
Steps to eliminate construction packaging
You can eliminate packaging in a number of ways. One of the most effective is to reduce unnecessary layers. These include:
- collation trays plus their shrink-wrap
- inner bags for carton board boxes with laminates
- packaging layers designed to protect the product from moisture or dust, where this is not an issue for the particular product
- layers within the packaging of standard electrical accessories
Other techniques you can use to eliminate packaging waste include:
- reducing the use of tapes and other adhesives in favour of interlocking tabs
- using in-mould embossing on products to remove the need for labels
- printing any instructions about the product on the box to avoid the need for a separate leaflet
- using plastic reusable boxes that you can return to the supplier when empty
- ensuring items such as sand and aggregate are delivered in bulk and not in multiple polypropylene bags
- investigating the use of silos on site to store products such as cement
- having any furniture delivered to site with only corner protection
Generally, you will need to work in partnership with your suppliers to eliminate packaging waste. However, each party should be able to benefit from cost savings and using resources more efficiently - see supply chain efficiency and environmental impact.
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-eliminate-packaging-construction-sites
Links
How to reduce construction packaging by working with suppliers
Practical tips on how your business can engage with suppliers to help to reduce packaging waste at construction sites
Communicating with your suppliers is key to reducing packaging on your construction site. If you can get suppliers to remove as much packaging material as possible from the products you buy before they reach your site, each party should be able to make significant cost savings.
Engaging with suppliers on construction packaging
Suppliers may be able to improve packaging by:
- reducing losses during packaging production - eg using larger pack sizes to reduce the amount of packaging per unit
- reducing void space and fillers - for example designing products so that they don't require fillers, using air as a filler to protect fragile products such as fasteners or electrical components, removing the air from packaging to increase its overall rigidity and using cardboard wrapping for complex-shaped items instead of bubble-wrap
- lightweighting and downsizing - for example eliminating one or more layers, replacing large blister packs with smaller cardboard packs, eliminating any plastic film windows in packaging, not using hollow or double-walled containers such as plastic tubes unless absolutely necessary and strengthening materials overall to enable a reduction on the materials consumed
- reducing environmental impact - for example using reusable packaging, recycled materials, non-synthetic adhesives, timber, paper and cardboard materials that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and considering the use of waterborne pressure-sensitive adhesives as they are easier to recycle
- improving transport efficiency - for example choosing packaging shapes and sizes that can maximise the use of pallets, supplying products that are available in concentrated forms to reduce weight and providing products that can be delivered in returnable boxes or pallets
For more information on working with your suppliers, see supply chain efficiency and environmental impact.
ActionsAlso on this siteContent category
Source URL
/content/how-reduce-construction-packaging-working-suppliers
Links
How to reuse packaging at construction sites
How reusing packaging on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
For packaging waste that you cannot eliminate or reduce, the most cost-effective option - and the best for the environment - is usually to reuse packaging as many times as possible.
Structural packaging such as certain types of pallets, crates and sturdy plastic or cardboard boxes can be reused time and again. However, suppliers often feel it is not economical to collect them for reuse. If materials are being delivered in sufficient quantities to a site, vehicles making the final deliveries can collect packaging materials from previously delivered loads and return them to the factory or manufacturing plant for reuse.
Ways to reuse construction packaging
There are a number of other ways your site can reuse packaging including:
- repairing any damaged pallets on site for reuse if they're rated for multi-use - you must not reuse pallets rated for single
- using pallets that can't be returned to stack other materials or as curing tables for masonry
- selling pallets that can't be reused to pallet suppliers
- selling pallets to other businesses that could use them as raw materials in their products
- considering the use of old polypropylene bags for storing demolition waste
- using large sheets of plastic sheeting that arrived as wrapping for use on site as weather protection
- placing cut-offs of a product in its original packaging for easy identification and separation ready for recycling
- forming relationships with suppliers, contractors and waste-management businesses to improve overall packaging reuse
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How to recycle packaging at construction sites
Recycling packaging on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
Most of the packaging that construction work generates can be recycled and not sent to landfill. Some packaging for hazardous materials may need special handling, but even this packaging can be successfully recycled. Some of the main materials on your site that are ideal for recycling include:
- metals, such as aluminium and steel
- untreated and uncontaminated timber
- paper and cardboard
- plastics
One of the main barriers to effective recycling is that often only low levels of materials are produced. You may be able to remedy this issue by collecting waste products over time in clearly identified bins. Training and education about waste and recycling is vital to ensure you recycle the maximum amount of materials.
How to recycle construction packaging materials
There are a number of measures you can put in place that will maximise the levels of waste that you can recycle. These measures include:
- using the national colour-coding scheme for waste containers to ensure waste is separated efficiently
- contacting local recycling services for collection thresholds and prices
- arranging for pallets to be returned to the supplier
- using an on-site baler to compact paper, card and plastic so they take up less space and are easier to store, ready for recycling
- investigating the potential of a shared collection scheme to reduce costs and maximise recycling levels
- clearly striking through hazard symbols to show that containers no longer contain hazardous materials and can be safely recycled - however, you must ensure that the container is clean and any hazardous liquids or substances are properly disposed of
- using off-site manufacture and assembly of products - for example bathrooms - that will help to reduce on-site packaging waste
- sending any packaging that can't be recycled to a licensed Waste Management Contractor, who will be best placed to decide its destination
- considering composting paper or cardboard that does not contain any tape or adhesives
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How to separate waste at construction sites
How separating waste on construction sites can bring cost savings and reduce overall environmental impact
One of the most important components of a successful packaging reuse and recycling system is actively and accurately segregating the waste your site produces. Educating workers is an important element of your waste segregation process.
National colour-coding scheme for packaging waste
To ensure that the maximum levels of packaging waste are segregated on construction sites, use the national waste colour-coding scheme. This segregates waste into a number of categories:
- asbestos - red
- gypsum - white
- hazardous - orange
- inert - grey
- metal - blue
- mixed - black
- packaging - brown
- wood - green
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Which construction materials can be recycled?
In this guide:
- Recycling construction materials
- Which construction materials can be recycled?
- Recycling bricks and blocks from construction projects
- Recycling floor and wall coverings from construction projects
- Recycling glass from construction projects
- Recycling insulation from construction projects
- Recycling plasterboard and gypsum from construction projects
- Recycling plastic from construction projects
- Recycling tiles and board from construction projects
- Recycling wood from construction projects
- Incorporating recycled materials into construction projects
Which construction materials can be recycled?
The different types of waste materials that you are likely to receive from construction and demolition projects
There are many different types of material that can be recycled from construction and demolition projects, particularly:
- plasterboard
- aggregates
- metals
- plastics
- glass
- wood
- bricks and blocks
- floor and wall coverings
- insulation
- packaging
The options for dealing with these materials vary, depending on the type of material and how easy and profitable it is to recycle and reuse it - find out more about recycling construction waste.
You may also be able to find ways to reuse wasted resources.
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Recycling bricks and blocks from construction projects
How you can recycle or reuse bricks and blocks on your construction project, and the potential benefits.
Bricks have a lifespan of more than 200 years. You can reclaim or recycle bricks and blocks which have previously been used in the construction of buildings, walls, paving and infrastructure, such as bridges and sewers. These include:
- clay bricks
- concrete precast
- aerated blocks
- stone blocks
You can also buy them from other businesses which sell reclaimed bricks.
The most common sources of brick and block waste include items that are damaged during unloading, storage and cutting, and excess due to over ordering.
Brick recycling options
You can reclaim undamaged bricks and blocks and use them in new building projects or sell them to other businesses which deal in reclaimed bricks.
You can recycle damaged bricks and blocks and use them:
- to make aggregate for use as general fill or highway sub-base
- in landscaping
- to produce new bricks and blocks
- to make sports surfaces such as tennis courts and athletics tracks
- as plant substrate
Limitations of recycling bricks and blocks
However, there are some limitations on using recycled bricks and blocks, including:
- bricks can be contaminated by other construction waste, such as plasterboard
- new aircrete blocks are cheap to buy
- cleaning bricks is time consuming and not always possible
- it is hard to assess the load-bearing capacity of recycled bricks
Reclaimed bricks are worth more than bricks which are recycled as aggregate. It is easier to source reclaimed bricks left over from new build projects, but more difficult with demolition projects.
Making changes to your site operations
You can make simple yet effective changes to your site's operations to reduce wastage and allow more waste to be recycled by:
- providing dedicated storage areas to reduce damage during storage
- training staff in the handling of materials
- planning during the design stage to minimise the need for cutting bricks and blocks
- separating brick and block waste to avoid damage and contamination
- using a lime-based mortar rather than a cement-based mortar - this allows the bricks to be recovered and reused at building deconstruction
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Recycling floor and wall coverings from construction projects
How to recycle or reuse waste from floor or wall coverings on your construction project, and the potential benefits.
Waste from floor and wall coverings includes:
- carpet
- carpet tiles
- vinyl and linoleum
- laminate flooring
- wood
- ceramic and terrazzo tiles
- wall paper
These items may become waste if they are:
- damaged during handling and storage
- cut to fit during laying
- not considered properly at the design stage
- excess due to over ordering
- wrongly selected and therefore not used
Recycling options for floor and wall coverings
You can sell waste from floor and wall coverings to:
- social enterprises which recondition and refurbish floor and wall coverings
- specialist recycling services which recover carpet fibres as plastics recyclate and sell on to the plastics and horticultural markets
Floor and wall covering waste can also be used for:
- road cone manufacture
- animal bedding material
- polypropylene bead manufacture
- reusing carpet recyclate
- manufacturer take-back schemes
However, there are some limitations on using recycled floor and wall coverings, including:
- there is no market for recycled 'glued-together' laminate flooring
- there is little market for recycled carpet
- the composite nature of carpets means the material is difficult to separate
- it is hard to tell apart the different polymers commonly used across different carpet types - eg polypropylene, wool rich and nylon
Making changes to your site operations
You can make simple yet effective changes to your site's operations to reduce flooring and wall covering waste and allow more to be recycled by:
- reusing spare tiles or unfinished rolls of material on another project or returning them to the supplier if a take-back scheme exists
- selecting a protected, secure area for storage to reduce waste from water and accidental damage - unused tiles or off-cuts can also be stored for reuse in later projects or kept by the client for future replacements
- putting pollution prevention measures in place
You can find licensed waste sites to recycle or dispose of floor and wall coverings.
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Recycling glass from construction projects
How you can recycle or reuse glass on your construction project, and the potential benefits and uses.
Most glass waste is produced by demolition projects and the replacement of windows in refurbishment projects (flat glass). It also comes from:
- fluorescent lighting
- PC monitors and TV screens
- structural glass - eg in modern office blocks
The main causes of glass wastage are:
- over ordering of materials
- breakages during installation
- damage during storage
Recycling options for glass
You can recycle waste glass produced on your construction site by:
- crushing
- screening to remove contamination
- air classification
- optical sorting
- size classification
- washing and drying
Recovered glass can also be used for:
- aggregates
- decorative materials
- fluxing agent in the manufacture of bricks and ceramics
- filtration medium
- insulation
- containers
- sports turf applications
- abrasives
However, there are some limitations on using recycled glass. For example:
- glass extraction and recovery can be expensive
- loading and transporting glass to cullet collection centres can cost money
- flat glass can be contaminated, which requires reprocessing before reuse
Making changes to your site operations
You can make simple yet effective changes to your site's operations to reduce glass waste and allow more to be recycled by:
- providing staff with training in the handling of materials
- separating glass waste to avoid damage and contamination
- providing dedicated storage areas to reduce the risk of damage
- arranging for materials to be delivered at the time and place on site they are required to reduce the risk of breakages during handling and storage
- arranging transport to move glass waste to cullet collection centres
- keeping records to prevent over ordering and minimise stock held on site
See window supply and installation - how to cut waste and costs.
You can find licensed waste sites to recycle or dispose of glass.
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Recycling insulation from construction projects
How you can recycle or reuse insulation waste on your construction project, and the potential benefits.
Most insulation waste comes from demolition and refurbishment projects. The amount of waste generated during installation depends on the type of insulation. Insulation materials include:
- glass and stone wool
- polystyrene
- sheep's wool
- spray foam
- polyurethane
- fibreboard
The main causes of insulation wastage are:
- over ordering and disposal of unused materials
- ordering the wrong insulation type or thickness
- over-designed projects
- poor pre-formed design
- poor storage and handling
Recycling options for insulation
The options for recycling waste insulation produced on your construction site include:
- direct reuse of off-cuts
- returning materials through take-back schemes offered by manufacturers
- compressed stone wool ceiling tile manufacture
- reclamation and reprocessing after removing impurities such as screws and nails
However, there are some limitations on recycling insulation including:
- difficulties of recycling insulation from demolition projects which can be contaminated, eg by mortar, wood, bitumen or asbestos
- greenhouse gas emissions from breaking rigid urethane insulation
- lack of specialised recycling facilities
- lack of end markets
- low value of insulation material
- low-density waste means large areas are needed for waste storage
Making changes to your site operations
You can make simple yet effective changes to your site's operations to reduce insulation waste and allow more waste to be recycled by:
- training staff in the handling of materials
- separating insulation waste to avoid damage
- selecting a secure storage area to protect materials from accidental and weather damage and storing off-cuts and partially used rolls for reuse
- keeping records to prevent over ordering and minimise stock held on site
- recovering materials and not sending them to landfill
- improved transport procedures to reduce damage to materials
Potential end uses for recovered insulation
You can use insulation waste in a number of construction applications and materials including:
- refurbishment projects - eg glass and stone wool batt insulation can be incorporated into concrete blocks or fibreglass board
- fibreglass ceiling tiles
- voluntary sector waste projects
You can find licensed waste sites to recycle or dispose of insulation.
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Recycling plasterboard and gypsum from construction projects
How you can recycle or reuse plasterboard waste, including gypsum, on your construction project, and the benefits.
Gypsum is manufactured into:
- plasterboard
- plaster
- other specialist boards - eg fire protection
Common sources of plasterboard waste
Plasterboard wastage of 10 to 35 per cent can be generated on site during installation. The main causes are:
- off-cuts
- damaged stock
- poor design
- poor storage and handling
- over ordering and disposal of unused materials
- off-site cutting
Recycling options for plasterboard
The options for recycling waste plasterboard produced on your construction site include:
- returning off-cuts to the manufacturer for recycling through take-back schemes
- sending waste to independent plasterboard recyclers to make into new plasterboard and cement
- sending waste to household waste recycling centres
- using gypsum as a soil conditioner
- using gypsum to make bathroom furniture mouldings
However, there are some limitations on recycling plasterboard including:
- old plasterboard removed in demolition and refurbishment projects can be contaminated with other materials and is harder to separate
- specialist types of plasterboard, such as foil backed, cannot be recycled using current technology
- plasterboard made from composite materials is difficult to separate - eg insulation bonded
Making changes to your site operations
You can make simple yet effective changes to your site's operations to reduce plasterboard waste and allow more to be recycled by:
- separating insulation waste to avoid damage
- improving transport procedures to reduce damage to materials
- providing staff with training in the handling of materials
- recovering materials and not sending them to landfill
Potential end uses for recovered plasterboard and gypsum
You can use recovered plasterboard in a number of construction applications and materials including:
- new plasterboard products via suppliers' take-back schemes
- Fermacell (dry-lining board for walls, ceilings and floors)
- unfired clay-gypsum blocks
- mushroom compost
- slope stabilisation
- road foundation construction
- bathroom furniture mouldings
See dry-lining contract work - how to cut waste and costs.
You can find licensed waste sites to recycle or dispose of plasterboard and gypsum.
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Recycling plastic from construction projects
How you can recycle or reuse plastic waste on your construction project, and the potential benefits.
In the construction industry, plastic is mainly used in:
- pipework
- insulation
- wall coverings and flooring
- interior fittings
- window frames
- scaffolding boards
- kerbstones
Common sources of plastic waste
The main causes of plastic waste include:
- packaging (around 25 per cent of construction packaging waste)
- over ordering and disposal of off-cuts and unused materials
- over-specified project design
- poor storage and handling
- site workers' food packaging
Recycling options for plastic
A range of plastics can be recycled including:
- polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
- high density polyethylene (HDPE)
- low density polyethylene (LDPE)
- polypropylene (PP)
- polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
- polystyrene
- ABS (a copolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene) polymers
However, there are some barriers to recycling plastic, particularly the related financial costs. For example:
- transportation costs - plastics are bulky and expensive to transport and store
- separation costs - different varieties of plastic and mixed plastics contain different dyes and additives which produce poor quality recyclate unless separated
- it can be cheaper and easier to use new plastic rather than recycled plastic
- plastic can only be recycled once
Making changes to your site operations
You can make simple yet effective changes to your site's operations to reduce plastic waste and allow more to be recycled by:
- separating plastic waste made of different polymers to reduce contamination
- providing staff with training in handling
- recovering materials and not sending to landfill
- improving transport procedures
- improving design - eg plastic pipe networks can be designed to use as few fittings as possible
Potential end uses for recovered plastic
Recovered plastic can be used in construction for damp proof membrane, drainage pipes, ducting and flooring. It can also be used in many other applications including:
- as a filler (thermoset plastics)
- packaging
- landscaping - eg walkways, jetties, pontoons, bridges, fences and signs
- textile fibre and clothing - polyester fleece clothing and polyester filling for duvets and coats is frequently made from recycled bottles
- street furniture - eg seating, bins, street signs and planters
- bin liners and refuse sacks
- traffic management products and industrial strapping
You can find licensed waste sites to recycle or dispose of plastic.
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Recycling tiles and board from construction projects
How you can recycle or reuse tile and board materials on your construction project, and the potential benefits.
Tile and board materials used in the construction industry include:
- ceramic wall and floor tiles
- slate, glass, marble, stone and porcelain wall and floor tiles
- panelboard products - eg medium density fibreboard (MDF) or chipboard
The amount of tiles wasted during installation is around:
- 8 to 10 per cent for wall and floor tiles
- 1 to 5 per cent waste for flooring tiles
- 5 to 10 per cent for rolls of flooring
The main causes of wastage from tiles and board include off-cuts, breakages and over ordering.
Recycling options for tiles and board
The processes used to recycle tiles and board are:
- Fibresolve - subjecting wood fibre to a vacuum and pressurised steam with mechanical agitation at a high temperature
- Microrelease - using microwaves to reclaim wood fibres from the resin
- thermohydrolic processes - separating the adhesive from the wood fibres
- composting
However, there are limitations to recycling tiles and board. These material types are rarely recovered due to the short timescales for planning and carrying out demolition work.
Making changes to your site operations
You can make simple yet effective changes to your site's operations to allow more tiles and board to be recycled by:
- planning slower demolition periods
- providing staff with training in handling
- recovering materials and not sending them to landfill
- improving transport procedures
Potential end uses for recovered tiles and board
Recovered tiles and board can be used in applications and materials including:
- reusing tiles as reclaimed materials
- recycling into aggregate
- producing mineral fibre acoustic ceiling tiles
You can find licensed waste sites to recycle or dispose of tiles and board.
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Recycling wood from construction projects
How your business can recycle or reuse wood waste on your construction project, and the potential benefits.
Most types of timber can be recycled. Waste wood can come in a variety of forms from medium density fibreboard (MDF) to tree branches.
The main causes of wood waste are:
- pallets
- crates
- beams
- window and doorframes
- doors
- floorboards
- shuttering
- fencing
- panels, such as chipboard
Recycling options for wood
The categories of wood which can be recycled are:
- manufacturing wood wastes
- reclaimable and recyclable wood materials - from demolition and construction, including pallets, the wood is chipped for other uses, excluding architectural salvage
- non-reclaimable and non-recyclable wood wastes - eg old fencing, laminated floor coverings and rotten windows and doors
However, there are some limitations to recycling wood, including:
- limited waste management options and facilities on site
- unknown levels of contamination
- low profitability
- limited marketplace - there are no real markets for reclaimed laminated wooden flooring as it often contains adhesives, plastics, mixed species of timber and surface finishes
- practical difficulties in recycling wood - eg a skip of chipboard is hard to recycle due to the quantity of glue
- local government policies
Making changes to your site operations
You can make simple yet effective changes to your site's operations to allow more wood to be recycled by:
- allowing time for waste management planning
- providing staff with training in waste reduction and health and safety
- selecting a secure storage area to protect materials from accidental and weather damage
- separating wood waste to avoid contamination
- arranging transport for collection of waste
Potential end uses for reclaimed wood
Reclaimed wood can be used in applications and materials including:
- chipboard, oriented strand board and fibreboard manufacture
- bedding products for animals
- play surfaces and pathways
- remanufactured products - eg fibre composites
- architectural components
- landscaping
- commercial products - eg logs, fuel chips
- liquid fuel (ethanol and methanol)
- biofuel for combined heat and power plant
See carpentry - how to cut waste and costs.
You can find licensed waste sites to recycle or dispose of wood.
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Incorporating recycled materials into construction projects
The business benefits and methods of using recycled or reclaimed materials in your construction project.
There are many business benefits of using recycled materials in your construction project, including:
- reducing material and waste disposal costs
- increasing your competitive advantage
- reducing your CO2 emissions
- meeting your planning requirements
- complementing other aspects of eco-design
- responding to and pre-empting changes in public policy, such as increases in Landfill Tax
- responding to client requirements
You could incorporate the following types of recycled materials into your construction projects:
- glass - see recycling glass from construction projects
- plasterboard - see recycling plasterboard and gypsum from construction projects
- plastics - see recycling plastic from construction projects
- wood - see recycling wood from construction projects
- aggregates - see recovering and using recycled aggregates
- paper - see using recycled paper
- compost and other organics - see using recycled organics
- rubber - see using recycled tyres
- cement replacement - eg pulverised fuel ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag
You could also consider using reclaimed products and reusing materials in your construction projects.
You can propose to use more recycled materials:
- at the design stage - see designer's guide to cutting waste from construction projects
- when using contractors - see contractor's guide to cutting waste from construction projects
Steps to consider when you incorporate recycled materials into your construction project include:
- requirements - the client sets the requirements for how much recycled content they would like to be used in the project
- generic options for improvement - the design team estimates the amount of recycled content likely to be used
- specific options for the project - refinement of recycled content figures and review of quick wins (recycled materials)
- selection - choosing quick wins which will be used in the project
- delivery - the delivery of quick wins to be used in the project
- reporting - providing the evidence that the recycled content requirement set by the client has been met
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Producing high quality recovered waste materials
In this guide:
- Waste contractor's guide to recycling construction waste
- Waste management at the start of construction projects
- Working with producers of construction waste
- Sorting and handling construction waste
- Staff efficiency at your materials recovery facility
- Using technology at your materials recovery facility
- Producing high quality recovered waste materials
Waste management at the start of construction projects
How materials recovery facilities can advise customers about waste management before starting a project
It is important to advise your customer about site waste practices at the beginning of a construction and demolition project. The earlier you can discuss this, the better for both parties. There are a number of ways in which you can advise your customers about waste management before or at the very beginning of a project. These include:
- a video of waste and recycling services offered
- visits to the materials recovery facility
- assistance with their site waste management policy
- offers of on-site waste management staff
- pre-project meeting to assist in waste management planning
The process of getting to know waste should also start early in the supply chain. You could consider asking to evaluate building projects at tender stage and even at the planning stages. You should visit new construction and demolition sites to assess likely waste materials and to determine the likely sequence in which different waste types will arise.
You can use tools and methodologies, to predict the type and volume of waste materials likely to arise at each phase of a building project.
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Working with producers of construction waste
How waste contractors and material recovery facilities can improve waste management practices on construction sites
Materials recovery facilities and waste management contractors can encourage customers to manage waste effectively themselves. To do this, you must know the type of waste produced and educate customers on the proper way to present waste.
In rural or isolated areas where transport costs become a limiting factor, you could use drawbar trailers, which can fit up to six skips on the same vehicle. This will increase the geographic area that you can economically serve and increase the range that outputs can be transported for reprocessing.
You could establish satellite transfer cabins to combine waste from a wide area before onward transport to the materials recovery facility. You can also use the services of fully vetted third-party skip businesses to further your reach.
You should also show transparency in the onward destination and sale price of output materials, especially from higher profile customers such as blue-chip construction firms.
Meeting your customers' waste requirements
You should be prepared to offer customers a wide range of services. Customers, especially the larger ones, may expect a more comprehensive service from their waste management contractors including project-specific and material-specific recovery rates and breakdowns of the fate of all waste processed.
Some construction and demolition contractors or their clients now audit waste management systems. This is usually done both at the time of tender where environmental and data reporting issues could influence the award of a waste management contract, or during the construction project itself, to ensure compliance with promised performance.
Knowing the construction and demolition waste
Construction and demolition waste varies in shape, density, water content and many other properties. To ensure that you maximise recovery, you must be aware of exactly what is being brought onto the site. This is simple if a regular business relationship exists with the constructor and where you are using your own drivers and are fully trained in waste receipt criteria.
You must inspect all incoming waste from third-party tippers such as independent skip hire businesses, as this may result in unknown material entering the site. If you accept waste from third-party businesses, the skips should be tipped immediately and contents inspected for non-compliance with the site licence.
You should prepare for waste produced to vary with the season - peak periods include spring and summer. Construction and demolition activity is reduced in winter and this is a good time to implement significant changes to your materials recovery facility systems or equipment if needed.
Separating materials at source
You should encourage customers to separate construction and demolition waste before it reaches you. This can result in a more orderly site, safer working conditions and an enhanced reputation. By using material dedicated skips, you can make the recovery process easier and the cost to your customers and yourself will also be reduced. Materials that can be separated include wood, plasterboard, brick and rubble.
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Sorting and handling construction waste
The legal controls that apply to handling construction and demolition waste at materials recovery facilities
At every stage during sorting and handling, you should process construction waste to optimise material recovery and diversion from landfill.
The waste you handle must be accompanied by a waste transfer note from the time it leaves the producer until it reaches its final destination. The waste transfer note must have a European Waste Catalogue (EWC) code that identifies the waste to each person that handles it. You must also handle and store waste so that you avoid harm to people or the environment.
You can only handle hazardous waste if you are authorised to do so by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). Hazardous waste includes asbestos and materials contaminated by oil and chemicals. For information on how to comply with hazardous waste controls.
You should ensure there is regular communication, for example with two-way radios, between the weighbridge and personnel working at your materials recovery facility. This enables weighbridge staff who are given waste transfer notes by skip drivers to inform colleagues in the waste receiving bay about incoming waste, and in return they can be quickly alerted should non-conforming waste be tipped.
You should work closely with waste producers and, where possible, visit construction and demolition projects in advance. Once the waste begins to arise, you should perform a series of checks verifying that material placed by waste producers into skips (or other containers) conforms to details entered on documentation. By doing this you can identify any non-conformities quickly and feedback to the customer.
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Staff efficiency at your materials recovery facility
How to make sure that you use your staff in an efficient way at your materials recovery facility
Employees play a vital role within materials recovery facilities in ensuring efficiency.
Hiring materials recovery staff
Using hand sorting ensures the quality of your final product, as humans are still more effective at extracting most objects from the waste flow.
Using agency staff or short-term contracts will offer flexibility as material flow fluctuates throughout the year. However, you should retain core staff to train and motivate temporary workers. Training your permanent employees to operate all the equipment in the materials recovery facility will offer flexibility in case of staff absence.
When recruiting senior staff, you should consider looking outside the waste industry. With similarities to a production line, a manufacturing expert might get more out of materials recovery facility staff and equipment than someone from a waste background.
Motivate and train materials recovery staff
To maximise material recovery, you should keep picking staff motivated, as the job may be routine. You should make working environments well lit, comfortable and safe and consider installing:
- dust extractors
- air conditioning and heating units
- sound systems - to keep workers entertained
- canteens
- changing rooms
It is important to give staff regular breaks and, where appropriate, rotate staff between tasks.
You may also consider using a financial incentives scheme to motivate picking staff and other employees such as drivers and maintenance workers.
How and why to monitor staff performance
You must discourage employees from picking items out of the waste flow for personal use - known as totting. Totting can be dangerous and reduces process efficiency, with workers missing recoverable materials.
One way to do this effectively is through a CCTV system in picking cabins and through in-vehicle tracking devices.
Managing health and safety risks effectively
A materials recovery facility can be a dangerous place to work due to:
- noise
- conveyors
- dust
- dirt
- hazardous materials
- vehicle movements
- heavy machinery
You should do as much as possible to reduce the risk of accidents and consider health and safety advice from outside the waste industry.
You can use these basic measures to reduce the risk of accident:
- never using personnel to pre-sort incoming waste on the tipping floor in front of mechanical grab
- implementing a one-way system for skip-trucks
- clear safety and warning signage translated into other languages when appropriate
- the availability of two-way radios in all vehicles and at all equipment locations
- segregated walkways
Your materials recovery facility should not be open to the public as this can increase the likelihood of accidents and obstruct vehicles.
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Using technology at your materials recovery facility
How to make sure that you use automation and technology efficiently at your materials recovery facility
If you install the right equipment at a construction and demolition materials recovery facility it can play a crucial role in the operation.
The main advantage of automation is that it can significantly boost the sorting capacity and recovery rate of a materials recovery facility. This will save you labour costs and reduce the risks of accidents.
Because of the costs involved when buying, installing, upgrading or maintaining machinery, you should be confident of a rapid return from an investment in machinery such as:
- trommels - rotating cylinders set at an angle with holes of a fixed diameter to allow small matter to fall through and larger fraction to continue onto an onward conveyor belt
- vibratory screens - a series of tapered levels which are angled down which shake vigorously, simultaneously sieving out the fines and moving it down the slope
- disk screens and star screens - steel shafts to which spinning plastic stars or disks are fixed to grip large, light objects and carry them up the slope, with heavier items rolling down and smaller material falling through the screen
- magnets - to extract ferrous metal
- picking cabin equipment - with a conveyor belt passing through it of an appropriate width to allow efficient waste picking
- water separation equipment - a flotation tank for separating less dense materials from heavier aggregates
- air separation equipment - either sucking or blowing unwanted material away from the aggregate or soil
- shredders - powerful shredding machines to reduce the space taken up by recovered materials
Advanced materials recovery equipment
You can invest in additional advanced equipment such as a ballistic separator. A ballistic separator can be installed after a trommel to perform a sophisticated separation process, whereby:
- heavy material, such as brick or wood, is walked up a slope
- lighter material, such as paper, travels down the incline
- an optional screen deck to recover a third fraction of heavy fines
The heavy fraction may then pass on for handpicking, while the lighter material could then pass through an optical separator.
Equipment materials recovery maintenance
Constant care of materials recovery facility equipment and machinery will ensure effective operation on the production line. This can be done by on-site engineers who perform tasks such as cleaning and maintaining equipment during downtime and responding immediately to mechanical failure.
You should also implement planned and preventative maintenance schedules and discipline staff who fail to take proper care of the equipment.
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Producing high quality recovered waste materials
The operational measures you should use to ensure a high quality of output at materials recovery facilities
When operating a materials recovery facility or waste management site, you should focus on producing high-quality, economically viable output materials.
This should enable you to increase the plant's overall efficiency, boost recovery rates and help to attract customers.
The importance of good waste recovery output
You should minimise the amount of output material sent to landfill. This will save money and attract new business from waste producers keen to limit their environmental impact. You will also need to sort the input stream into high-quality material outputs.
You should aim to build a reputation for consistent high quality outputs to maintain throughput. For example, ensure that the level of contaminants, such as painted or hazardous treated material in wood destined for energy recovery, does not exceed levels stipulated by the individual power plants.
You can prevent contamination by keeping your site tidy and free of waste materials on the floors and in skips and balers.
When demand is low, material reprocessors favour top-quality suppliers, so it is advisable to:
- regularly check quality at various stages of the process - for example by using digital photography
- provide a fully supervised audit trail for all material consignments
At the very least, you should note feedback from reprocessors on material quality and, when necessary, improve systems accordingly.
Flexibility in materials recovery
Because material prices fluctuate, your operations should be flexible, for example separate specific materials when prices rise and leave alone when prices fall. However, the rising price of landfill now means that most materials will eventually be worth recovering and recycling.
You should consider alternative transport links such as road, rail and canal when choosing a location for a new plant as it will offer flexibility in managing both inputs and outputs.
Care of output materials
You should bale output materials to make them easier to store and transport, unless you are asked not to by a buyer. Mill-sized bales are preferred by buyers as these can fetch higher prices.
To maintain quality and reduce the risk of contamination, theft and fire - including arson - you should store bales in dry, secure and, where possible, enclosed areas.
Because storage space costs are usually high, you should make sure that onward movement of material is done quickly, particularly as some recyclates will soon start to degrade.
You should regularly check bales for quality and even consider under-floor heating in storage bays to dry certain recyclates.
Energy recovery
It is unlikely that you can recover all materials without energy recovery through combustion as some material may be too awkward to recover, due to factors such as contamination or size.
You can apply for permission for your materials recovery facility to have its own energy from waste equipment, such as gasification and combined heat and power plant - see burning waste.
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