Construction waste disposal

[edit] Introduction

Construction activities can generate large amounts of waste materials that then need to be disposed of. In addition, at the end of a building's life, it may be deconstructed or demolished, generating significant amounts of waste.

Increasingly, there are options available in terms of reusing and recycling materials, and reducing the amount of waste produced in the first place, but still a large amount of waste is disposed of in landfill.

The UK construction industry is the largest consumer of resources, requiring more than 400 million tonnes of material a year (ref. Davis Langdon). 32% of landfill waste comes from the construction and demolition of buildings and 13% of products delivered to construction sites are sent directly to landfill without being used (ref. Technology Strategy Board).

This can be an expensive process, as the 1996 Finance Act introduced a tax on waste disposal on all landfill sites registered in the UK. For more information see: Landfill tax.

A site waste management plan (SWMP) can be prepared describing how materials will be managed efficiently and disposed of legally during the construction of the works, and explaining how the re-use and recycling of materials will be maximised. This involves estimating how much of each type of waste is likely to be produced and the proportion of this that will be re-used or recycled on site, or removed from the site for re-use, recycling, recovery or disposal. This was a legal requirement until 2013, but whilst it is not longer required, it remains best practice.

[edit] Waste classification

Before sending waste for disposal, it should be sorted and classified to allow waste contractors to manage it effectively, and ensure that hazardous waste is properly handled.

The classification description should include:

• The waste classification code, also known as the List of Waste (LoW) code.
• Whether or not it is hazardous.
• The type of location and site where it was produced.
• The name of the substances.
• The process that produced the waste.
• A chemical and physical analysis of the waste.
• Any special problems, requirements or information related to the waste.

The tables below list waste codes for common construction and demolition waste.

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

[edit] Insulation and asbestos materials

[edit] Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics

This list excludes asbestos-containing materials - refer to the insulation and asbestos materials table for any waste with asbestos.

[edit] Wood, glass and plastic

This list excludes packaging wastes and domestic type recyclables - refer to the packaging section for related codes.

[edit] Bituminous mixtures, coal tar and tar

[edit] Metallic waste, including cable

[edit] Soil, contaminated soil, stones and dredging spoil

[edit] Gypsum

[edit] Cement

[edit] Paints and varnishes

Paints and varnishes of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

[edit] Adhesives and sealants

Adhesives and sealants of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Circular economy.
• Construction skip.
• Construction waste.
• COSHH.
• Design for deconstruction.
• End of life potential.
• Fly-tipping.
• Getting a skip hire permit.
• Grab hire lorry.
• Hazardous substances.
• Landfill.
• Landfill tax.
• Materials Management Plan (MMP).
• Quantification of construction materials in existing buildings (material intensity).
• ReCon Soil project.
• Recyclable construction materials.
• Recycling.
• Site clearance.
• Site waste management plan.
• Site Waste Management Plans – A Necessary Burden.
• Waste and Resources Action Programme WRAP.
• Wishcycling.

[edit] External resources

• Gov.uk - Construction and demolition waste