Contractor's guide to cutting waste from construction projects

Reducing waste from your construction projects can benefit your business in a number of ways.

Meeting construction waste legal requirements

Reducing the amount of waste in your construction projects should make it easier to comply with waste legislation such as hazardous waste controls and your duty of care for business waste.

It should also help you meet other obligations and requirements including:

• planning and building regulations
• internal targets and policies, such as those in your environmental management system or corporate social responsibility policy

Implementing good environmental practices can also help you stay ahead of legal requirements and your competitors.

Lower costs and more business opportunities

You can cut your costs by using materials more effectively, reducing the amount of waste you need to dispose of and improving the efficiency of your staff and contractors. You may then be able to offer your services at a lower price to try and win more tenders.

Actively reducing waste from your construction projects can also differentiate your business from your competitors by becoming a 'green' builder. Clients who are aware of the impact that waste can have on their costs and public image are increasingly seeking to use contractors that understand and pursue reductions in waste.

Environmental benefits of reducing construction waste

The environmental benefits of reducing waste include:

• less waste going to landfill
• less use of natural resources
• lower greenhouse gas emissions - such as from producing, transporting and using materials and recycling or disposing of the waste materials
• lower risk of pollution incidents