Construction and demolition waste Q&A

The Resource Efficiency in Building and Related Industries (REBRI) project was set up to reduce Construction and Demolition (C & D) waste by improving resource efficiency. Resource efficiency means using materials, time, money, and energy more efficiently.

The REBRI project produced a range of guidelines. The guidelines were designed as a practical tool for use during construction and demolition projects – for architects and engineers to builders and recyclers. The guidelines cover a number of different topic areas, including development, design, construction and demolition. They also include information on the recovery of specific materials such as concrete, timber, plasterboard and steel.

The guidelines, as well as background information on the project can be found on the REBRI Website.

Reducing construction and demolition waste is good for the environment. It can also save you money.

A number of REBRI Case Studies have been carried out using the guidelines to reduce C & D waste. The case studies show that businesses can save significant amounts of money by reducing C& D waste.

The Ministry for the Environment also commissioned a report (Paterson, C., 1997) to identify how much money can be saved from recovering C & D waste. The report found 50-55 percent of C & D waste can be recovered, leading to huge cost savings. The report also found 20 percent of savings came from resale of valuable goods, and 80 percent of savings comes from reduced disposal costs.

Look through the REBRI Guidelines and read the ones that apply to you. 

Also check out the following FAQ's further down this page:

• How can a DIY or small builder reduce their waste?
• How can a medium to large builder reduce their waste?
• What can be done in the design and planning phase?
• What can recycling businesses do?

Sustainable buildings are better financially, better for people, and better for the environment. Through sustainable design and operation of buildings, many significant economic and environmental outcomes can be improved. These can include savings in energy, water and materials use, reduction in generation of waste and wastewater, and more sustainable travel patterns of the occupants. Better employee health, morale and productivity can also be obtained. These changes do not have to cost more than for conventional buildings. In fact, resource efficiencies can often create major net benefits over the life of the project.

The entire lifecycle of the building needs to be considered, from design and construction, use and deconstruction/demolition. Reducing C & D waste is an important part of any sustainable building project. A good waste management plan (PDF 20KB), based on the REBRI guidelines, should be incorporated into any building project.

Smarter Homes

Smarter Homes provides credible and accessible information to homeowners and the residential building industry to enable sustainable building and renovation. Smarter Homes targets house-owners and aims to stimulate consumer demand, by demonstrating the benefits of sustainable homes. The site is owned by the Department of Building and Housing and supported by the Ministry for the Environment.

Level – The Authority on Sustainable Building

The Ministry also supports the Level website which was developed by the Building Research Association of NZ and targets professionals in the construction industry. It provides information to help design and build smarter, healthier and more sustainable homes. It also provides resources, tools and links to promote efficient material use, and the reduction of construction and demolition wastes.

Value case for sustainable building

The Value Case for Sustainable Building was developed to provide information on costs of sustainable building compared to standard building. The value case provides compelling evidence for sustainable building:

• For owner occupiers, a 20-year whole-of-life cost view indicates the marginal cost increase of sustainable building is likely to be repaid between five or six times by operating cost savings alone.
• For tenants, the probable 20-year rental premium for sustainable buildings is likely to be repaid by a factor of approximately three from operating cost savings only.
• For owner occupiers, developers and investment funders, a residual land value analysis shows a sustainable office building may have a land value of 40 percent more than that of a conventional building. Its true worth is nearly 40 percent more than a conventional building.
• The case studies show that to achieve the above investment returns, the difference in the initial capital cost of sustainable buildings compared to conventional good quality buildings varies from 15 percent less to 11.5 percent more, with sustainable features initially costing an average of 2–6 percent more.

The greatest reductions in C & D waste are made at the design and planning stage. Often this simply involves a bit of extra thinking and planning. The REBRI guidelines have a specific section that looks at the design and planning stage. The guide contains valuable suggestions for improving resource efficiency. Suggestions include designing for deconstruction, building material selection, designing and implementing a waste management plan, and contract specifications.

Easy-Guide for Design and Planning  

Full Design and Planning Guide

All other REBRI Guides

The REBRI guidelines provide practical assistance at a site level. There are short ‘easy-guides’ that can assist you to reduce waste, no matter how small your project. There is even a specific easy guide on home renovation. Have a look through the guides and decide which ones are most appropriate for your individual project.

Easy-Guide for Construction  

Easy-Guide for Home Renovation

All other REBRI Guides

The REBRI guidelines contain comprehensive information on how to carry out resource efficiency operations on a building site. The guides also have templates for setting up waste management plans and contract specifications. If you are interested in improving resource efficiency, examine the guidelines to see where you can make improvements.

Easy-Guide for Construction

Full Construction Guide

All other REBRI Guides

Demolition activities produce huge quantities of C & D waste. Reducing the amount of waste being created can save the demolition contractor vast sums of money. The REBRI project has developed a number of guides specific for demolition contractors.

Easy-Guide for Demolition

Full Demolition Guide

All other REBRI Guides

To recycle building materials from your building project, find a C & D waste recycler close to your project. The REBRI website (link to REBRI Recycling Page) identifies recycling operators around New Zealand.

You can also search for recyclers using the RONZ website. RONZ is an association of recyclers, and has a searchable database.

You can also visit the WasteMINZ Website for more information. WasteMINZ is a membership based association of waste organisations and individuals throughout New Zealand. It has a waste exchange page where you can search for waste exchange points in your area.

If you cannot find a recycler in your area, please contact your local council to find out where the closest recycling facilities are to you.

The REBRI guidelines have a number of guides that look at recovering specific waste materials. Some of these are simple ‘easy-guides’; others are more detailed guides, looking at all aspects of resource recovery. The guides cover the recovery of concrete, metal, plasterboard and wood. The guides also look at the collection, transport, on-site/off-site processing, sorting and storage of such materials.

Easy-Guide for Concrete

Easy-Guide for Metal

Easy-Guide for Plasterboard

Easy-Guide for Wood

All other REBRI Guides, including more detailed information on resource recovery.

A range of standards are being developed for recycled materials. These standards outline the quality necessary for materials to be acceptable for certain purposes.

Recycled Crushed Concrete The Aggregate Quarry Association has developed a standard for recycled crushed concrete. This is available on their website for use.

Transit has also made an amendment to the M/04 Standard for Base Course Aggregate. It now has specifications developed for using recycled crushed concrete in the M/04 standard.

Development of Markets

The Assessment of Markets for C & D waste (2004) (PDF 392KB) report provides an overview of the C & D-related markets in three main regions (Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch), the potential for future markets and common market issues. The report also provides recommendations for a market development strategy to ensure increased waste recycling/reuse rates in the future.

Recycler Verification System

The Review of Verification Programme Options (2004) (PDF 305KB) was a literature review into the types of verification frameworks available nationally and internationally that could be used to certify waste operators in the C & D Industry. This is to try and provide options for verifying that materials are being recycled and disposed of correctly.

Best Practice guidelines

Guidelines have been developed for practitioners in the construction and demolition sector to prevent waste from being created.

An initial review of the key issues facing the different sectors was conducted in close consultation with the industry. This resulted in a Sector Group Waste Reduction - Issues and Options (2004) (PDF 305KB) report. This report documents the issues and options associated with the waste reduction of seven building-related sector groups, and analyses the industry context within which the best upcoming practice guidelines should be framed. The seven sector groups are: designers, engineers, developers and builders, sub-contractors, product suppliers, and demolition contractors.

REBRI Publications

A number of additional REBRI Publications are on the REBRI website. The website covers a range of C & D waste topics, and includes a number of relevant reports. Future Ministry for the Environment reports on construction and demolition waste will be published on the REBRI Publications webpage.