Waste management is a huge consideration for all construction projects given how much materials are used and leftover during a project.
Nonetheless, industry data shows that construction is responsible for creating a third of the world's waste.Not only that but according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 600 million tons of construction and demolition were generated in 2018—that's twice the amount of municipal solid waste generated that year.
These stats highlight the critical need to improve construction waste management processes, particularly in sustainable development. As the world becomes more populated and urbanized, we must take major steps to minimize our environmental impact and construction companies have a big opportunity to be part of the solution.
In this guide, we'll cover strategies and best practices for effective construction waste management.
What we cover:
Construction waste management is the process of handling, reducing, and recycling waste generated during construction, renovation, and demolition projects.
Construction waste management aims to minimize environmental impact and promote sustainability by reusing materials, maximizing recycling efforts, and ensuring proper disposal of unavoidable waste streams.
Construction waste can come in the form of:
Managing and reducing these things not only helps construction firms reduce their environmental impact, but they also help with regulation compliance and safety.
We covered the "what" and "why" behind construction waste management; now, let's discuss the ways you could implement it.
Waste management and reduction initiatives will be much more effective when they're mapped out from the very beginning of the project—i.e., the planning and design stage.
One of the most important steps you can take at this point is to optimize material usage based on project plans. This can be done by accurately estimating material needs and not over-ordering the desired quantities.
And if it makes sense for the project and your business has the infrastructure to support, consider using prefabricated elements to reduce on-site cutting and waste. Prefab also allows teams to assemble components efficiently, minimizing waste and labor costs.
Finally, there is deconstruction. Create a deconstruction that allows for future use of materials. Doing so promotes recycling and reuse in construction projects, so you can give materials and new life and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
When procuring materials, strive to estimate accurate quantities during the material takeoff process. This helps you avoid oversupply and spoilage once you have ordered.
You could also consider using recycled or salvaged materials. For instance, reclaimed wood can be used for flooring or structural elements, and recycled metal can be repurposed for framing or fixtures.
Need inspiration? Consider the Kendeda Building at Georgia Tech, which is the most environmentally advanced education and research building ever constructed in the Southeastern United States. Aside from its innovative design, the Kendeda Building incorporates materials from within the Georgia Tech campus.
The building's stair treads were sourced from the old Tech Tower on campus, which dates back to the late 1800s. Plus, its walls were created using old slate roofing tiles from Georgia Tech's alumni house from the same era.
General best practices such as reducing waste and recycling also apply to construction. Here are a few ideas.
As with most initiatives, effective implementation of waste management starts with an action plan. A well-defined construction environmental management plan keeps all team members aligned on objectives and procedures, reducing confusion and ensuring your plan is carried out properly.
Not to mention, setting clear goals and strategies allows you to track progress better and make necessary adjustments. Here are the steps you could take when designing your waste management strategy:
To determine what waste management measure to implement, you first need to figure out where you're at. Conduct a waste audit to identify and quantify waste streams. This includes a thorough analysis of the types and amounts of waste generated at different stages of the project.
Document how much waste is generated throughout the course of the project, and at which phase. From there, you can pinpoint activities and implement strategies to reduce waste in those areas.
Once you know where you stand, it's time to establish clear goals for waste reduction and diversion from landfills.
You can do this by setting specific, measurable targets for reducing the volume of waste generated and increasing the percentage of materials recycled or reused. For example, you could aim to reduce overall waste by 20% and recycle or reuse at least 50% of construction debris.
If possible, involve all stakeholders in the goal-setting process to ensure buy-in and accountability.
Waste management initiatives aren't implemented in a vacuum. It requires coordinating with other entities to ensure effective and comprehensive waste handling.
One such example is waste haulers, which are responsible for collecting, transporting, and processing waste materials.
When mapping out your construction environmental management plan, identify waste haulers to team up with, ideally those that offer recycling and reuse options.
If you haven't done so yet, research local, state, and federal regulations to understand your project's specific requirements. Then, contact your local environmental protection agency or relevant regulatory body to obtain the necessary application forms.
From there, you'd need to provide detailed information about the types and quantities of hazardous waste your project will generate. Submit your application and any required fees, and follow up regularly to track its progress.
Once approved, stay compliant by adhering to all permit conditions and reporting requirements.
Construction waste management is a continuous process that needs to be monitored and adjusted when necessary. Here are the things to keep an eye on:
One of the best ways to streamline your waste management initiatives is to digitize your efforts. Aside from reducing paper waste, leveraging solutions like construction management software centralizes your processes and documentation so you can be more efficient. Plus, managing your initiatives through a digital platform provides reports and analytics so you can make data-driven decisions regarding sustainability.
The significant role of tech in construction waste management can't be understated. Carol Battle, Principal Consultant for Autodesk's Sustainability Practices, said it best:
"The technology breakthroughs over the last ten or so years have been around the data accessibility and access to the computing power that will make many of these new methodologies viable, whether it's offsite manufacturing to drive lower waste or design for deconstruction."
Here's how you can use construction management software to improve waste management in your projects and organization as a whole.
Choose construction management software that gives you real-time visibility into inventory and materials. That way, you can keep accurate track of supplies and reduce over-ordering. Real-time insights into construction also help you identify issues early, reducing unnecessary waste.
Construction management software enhances communication and collaboration by providing a centralized platform for sharing information and updates. Team members can access real-time data, share documents, and coordinate in the same digital environment, which ensures everyone is aligned and working towards common waste reduction goals.
As mentioned above, the best platforms are ones that can generate detailed reports on waste generation, recycling, and disposal activities. These reports help track progress toward waste reduction targets and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. Regular reporting also provides transparency and accountability, so stakeholders can see the tangible benefits of waste management efforts.
Implementing these strategies not only benefits the environment but also enhances operational efficiency and can reduce costs.
Whether you're in the process of launching a construction environmental management plan or want to further optimize your waste reduction efforts, remember that every step towards better waste management contributes to a more sustainable future.
Autodesk Construction Cloud can help streamline your waste management initiatives by centralizing your teams, processes, and data. That way, you can coordinate efforts more effectively and gain insights into resource usage plus areas of improvement. Learn more here.
