Construction & Demolition Waste Recovery
Program Overview
Of more than two millions tonnes of inert waste (material unlikely to de-compose) that goes to landfill each year. The construction and demolition industries provide the vast majority of this material. As much of the waste to landfill from the Construction & Demolition industry is made up of valuable resources such as wood, concrete, plastic and metals trials are beginning to arise where Civil construction projects are using recycled Construction & Demolition waste to lower costs, lower environmental impacts and better use resources.
Some examples of ways Construction & Demolition waste has been reused are:
- Concrete and rubble can be used in the construction of roads; as drainage aggregates in new housing and commercial developments; and for non-structural applications such as pipes and kerbing.
- Brick makers can recycle used bricks to produce new products. If they are in good condition bricks can be reused in other construction projects.
- Sand is in currently great demand. Construction projects can use recovered sand, provided that it is not classed as contaminated.
- Plasterboard can be used in soil conditioners, provided that it is not contaminated.
- Other wastes such as light woods, plastics and packaging, can also be recycled.
The State Government is working with industry and its own departments to expand the use of recycled Construction & Demolition materials. A number of projects aimed at increasing the use of recycled Construction & Demolition waste have been awarded grants. For more information about applying for grants visit the Support Schemes page. Previously funded projects include grants to:
- carry out quality control work on materials produced by Construction & Demolition waste recyclers
- assist Main Roads WA to trial recycled content material as road base under the Peel Deviation (View project details);
- assist research in construction waste recycling at the Vale project in Gnangara (View project details); and
- assist industry bodies to produce educational material for its members (Master Builders Association project, Housing Industry Association project)
- assisting projects that recover Construction & Demolition waste effectively as it is created (Shire of Busselton, Xearth Pty Ltd)
- increase amount of Construction & Demolition waste in new road developments (City of Canning news articles Inside Waste- page 14, Infolink article- 'Canning pave the way')
Publications and Resources
Environmental
guidelines for
construction and
demolition waste
recycling facilities
Published: 2009-09-18
Detailed investigation into existing and potential markets for recycled constuction and demolition materials - Final Report July 2008
Published: 2009-03-12
Asbestos Leaflet: Hazelmere Timber Recycling Centre
Published: 2008-03-12
Recycling Directory for Construction & Demolition Secondary Resources
Published: 2007-06-06
Issues Relating to the Generation, Collection, and Treatment of Building Product Waste in Western Australia
Published: 2006-06-06
Issues relating to the generation, collection and treatment of Building Product Waste in WA - April 2006
Published: 2006-06-06
More Information
For more information on the how Construction & Demolition waste is handled in Western Australia, please contact the Project Coordinator at the Department of Environment by email or telephone (08) 6467 5391.
