Waste Minimisation In Construction Industry
Abstract
Sinclair Knight Merz Limited has conducted a 6-month pilot-scale trial of construction waste minimisation opportunities in Christchurch City. The project was funded by Christchurch City Council as part of the "Target Zero" waste minimisation program. The main emphasis was on training 16 site foremen in identifying and segregating wastes "at the end of the pipe".
Four construction projects by Hawkins Construction Limited (Hawkins) and The Fletcher Construction Company Limited (Fletchers) were studied, with capital value $0.9M to $9M. The project was successful, with both companies achieving reductions in waste disposal volumes of 20-40% and costs of 10-80%. Salient issues were uncovered regarding the current waste industry paradigm.
The objective of this paper is to discuss the findings of the waste case study and their wider implications for waste minimisation. An overview of the objectives, methods and results of the study will be presented, followed by discussion of the key findings.