Construction waste recycling: Your guide to a greener site

Construction waste recycling isn’t just a nice-to-have for building sites today, it’s a vital part of the circular economy and heavily regulated by the government.

Anyone working in the construction industry – including builders, plasterers, tilers, plumbers and electricians – has a duty of care to manage waste in the most sustainable way possible, according to the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011.

But wrapping your head around all the different types of construction waste recycling can be confusing without a clear guide to help you navigate what you need to do. And it can be especially frustrating if you don’t understand why recycling construction waste is important in the first place…

Why construction waste recycling matters

Construction waste recycling is a key component of building a greener future in the UK.

Rubbish from the building industry contributes to almost a third (62%) of all UK waste, so it’s a huge priority for the nation to make sure proper waste management regulations are adhered to.

There is enormous potential for construction materials to be reused, but the only way to ensure it isn’t sent to landfill is an effective waste management strategy.

Recycling construction waste isn’t only good for the environment, it’s also far more efficient and you’ll likely save a lot of money on your waste management.

MORE: Construction waste disposal: How to save money and avoid penalties

How is construction waste recycled?

Separating construction waste recycling onsite usually requires individual containers, each with a single waste stream:

• One container for glass recycling (window panes and other flat glass)
• One for plastic recycling (cladding, pipes, flooring…)
• One for metal recycling (wiring, hinges, screws…)
• One for wood recycling (beams, decking, pallets…)
• One for rubble (stone, brick, concrete…)

Clearly signposting your containers and educating all workers on proper construction waste recycling will make it simpler for everyone to see where each waste type goes, keeping your site nice and tidy.

These days, advanced sorting technologies such as optical sorting and robotic systems can streamline the waste separation process, improving recycling efficiency.

For larger sites and longer-term projects, ro-ro skips (either a 20-yard or 40-yard container) allow you to keep construction waste stored onsite for long periods to reduce the coming and going of lorries (and the fuel emissions that come with them).

For really big projects, mobile recycling units are capable of processing waste directly on construction sites, eliminating the need for transportation to off-site facilities.

Construction waste is best sorted and separated onsite, but if that’s not practical, skip hire companies like SunSkips can collect waste and sort it away from the project.

Using recycled construction waste

On top of recycling construction waste, your project can go even further by choosing recycled materials for your build.

Items like doors, windows and fixtures can often be reused without much work involved in cleaning them up. Items like this can be particularly pricey, so it’s well worth taking the green route here.

Materials like concrete and masonry can be crushed and used as aggregate for new construction projects, while wood waste can be chipped for landscaping or used as fuel for biomass energy generation.

By choosing recycled alternatives, the demand for virgin materials decreases, driving market demand for recycling and supporting a circular economy.

How does construction waste affect the environment

Diverting building waste from landfills and using recycled construction materials is one of the most impactful contributors to a greener future.

Harmful substances and greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere when construction waste is left to rot in landfill.

Recycling construction waste also conserves natural resources, such as timber, aggregates, and minerals.

MORE: Why you should care about SunSkips’ commitment to sustainable waste management

How construction waste recycling is regulated

The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 state that all construction waste must be managed according to the waste management hierarchy (prevention, preparing for reuse, recycling, other recovery and disposal).

This sets out a prioritised approach to waste management, with recycling and recovery preferred over disposal. Construction companies are obligated to follow this hierarchy and explore recycling options before landfill disposal.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Permitting Regulations require construction sites to have proper waste management plans and obtain permits for waste disposal. Additionally, the Site Waste Management Plans Regulations aim to minimise waste generation and maximise recycling rates on construction sites that have an estimated cost of more than £300,000.

MORE: How to hire a skip and stay on the right side of local authorities

Pre-construction planning

Prevention is right at the top of the waste management hierarchy; there’s no construction waste recycling to deal with if it doesn’t exist in the first place.

Reducing construction waste by carefully planning material use is the best thing your project can do to protect the environment.

Drawing up a detailed site waste management plan (SWMP) gives your project clear guidelines to identify opportunities for waste reduction and efficient resource use.

For example, if the project requires demolition, consider if any of that material can be directly recycled into the new build. Could you reduce waste by keeping materials for future jobs? If not, swap or sell reusable materials to other construction companies.

Plan ahead and figure out how much of each building material you’ll need. If possible, buy just the right amount to avoid throwing away leftover scraps or extra stuff. If you don’t end up using all the materials, keep the packaging on and try to get a refund from the supplier.

Give props to your team for finding ways to save on resources and make greener choices. And, of course, choose a sustainable waste management company that will make sure as much of your construction waste is diverted from landfill as possible.

Choosing the right provider for your construction waste recycling

SunSkips is a popular choice for construction waste management in East Anglia due to the company’s specific knowledge of the industry.

On top of a wide range of containers, from two yards all the way up to 40 yards, the skip hire firm boasts sophisticated screening lines at all its sites.

For example, the onsite jaw crusher machines break rocks into smaller pieces so it can be used in aggregate.

Meanwhile, the new rubble washer removes all the light waste for cleaner rubble, making it suitable to be reintroduced into the circular economy.

 

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And the trommel screening machine spins a cylindrical drum to sort through construction waste recycling, using air to dry out soil, mulch and sand to separate it.

Everyone at SunSkips is passionate about getting the most value from construction waste recycling as possible and is proud of our investment in the tools and technology necessary to process the high volumes we manage across Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

SunSkips is an environmentally conscious waste management provider that can help you evaluate how your construction waste recycling is reduced, reused or recycled. Get in touch with our friendly team today to discuss how we can make your next project greener and more cost effective at the same time.