Construction waste

Managing construction and demolition waste

Materials from construction and demolition activities include concrete, bricks, tiles and timber, as well as hazardous materials such as paint or asbestos.

Recycling or safe disposal of these materials is important as it can help reduce pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and energy used over a product’s lifecycle. More importantly, recycling of these materials helps ensure we continue to have access to affordable, high-quality building materials.

Reducing your usage and waste can achieve savings through spending less on materials and avoiding disposal costs.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority has developed resources to assist with household building and renovation, as well as important information for builders, developers and contractors managing construction and demolition waste. 

Lawful disposal of waste

Waste generated from construction and demolition sites, including soil, contaminated soil and demolition waste, must be disposed of or re-used lawfully.

If a quote for managing waste is low, find out why. The company may be avoiding costs by transporting waste to a place that cannot lawfully be used as a waste facility. 

If waste is disposed of unlawfully, the owner of the waste and the waste transporter may both be guilty of an offence under Section 143 of the NSW Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.

Penalties apply for doing the wrong thing:

• Up to $1,000,000 for a corporation
• Up to $250,000 for an individual.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority provides a guide for owners on the lawful disposal of construction and demolition waste. 

Council officers may enter premises to examine and inspect work, require records to be produced or copied, and assess compliance with approved Waste Management Plans. View Council's fact sheet on Waste Auditing for more information.