How Do You Dispose of Building Waste?

PUBLISHED: 08/07/2024

Everywhere you turn, there are new housing estates, workspaces or tower blocks. And don’t forget about the roadworks! Leeds is a bustling city, constantly undergoing new developments to meet city centre living and working demands.

But as construction activity grows, building waste accelerates. The construction industry creates a third of the world’s overall waste and is responsible for 39% of global carbon emissions. It’s time they clean up their act.

In this blog, you’ll discover the importance of disposing construction waste and how we can help.

What Is Construction Waste?

Construction waste refers to any unwanted materials or waste generated during construction activities, including demolition, deconstruction and refurbishment.

Building waste can also result from over-ordering, where materials are surplus compared to construction requirements. Most waste will be raw materials, including concrete, wood, brick and cement.

What Is Classed as Builders Waste?

1. Inert Waste - Nonbiodegradable materials such as concrete, stones, soil and bricks. Construction and demolition projects mostly generate inert waste that cannot go to landfills.
2. Hazardous Waste - Waste materials containing asbestos or other hazardous substances that cause harm to human health. This includes electrical cabling and coal tar and tarred products.
3. Non-Hazardous Waste - Waste that poses no threat to human health or the environment. For example, glass and metal waste and plastic recycling.

Under the government’s waste classification code, other construction waste includes:

1. Wood, glass and plastic;
2. Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics;
3. Insulation materials;
4. Metal waste;
5. Soil, stones and dredging spoil;
6. Gypsum;
7. Cement;
8. Bituminous mixtures, coal tar and tar;
9. Paints and varnishes;
10. Adhesives and sealants

Do Builders Have to Remove Waste?

Under the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, businesses and tradespeople must dispose of and recycle all building waste.

It is a criminal offence to improperly dump hazardous materials, which can lead to hefty fines and even prosecution. Hazardous waste must be dealt with carelessly, so you should always bring in a trained waste removal professional to handle the job. 

If you have a home improvement project, you can dispose of DIY waste in your local skips for free. This change occurred earlier this year with councils such as Leeds City allowing free disposal of DIY waste up to 4 times a month.

If you employ builders, your rubbish will be treated as commercial waste, so you can’t use the council skip.

Why Is Waste Management Important in Construction?

Responsible waste management in construction offers many benefits, including:

1. Lower costs - Reusing and recycling building waste for future projects will reduce your landfill tax. As of 2023, standard waste is priced at £102.10 per tonne, so the less waste there is, the better!
2. Safer environments - The correct disposal of hazardous waste means you’ll minimise environmental damage (e.g., water pollution) and risk to human health.
3. Compliance - No one likes taking out the rubbish, but it’s a legal requirement as a business. Proper waste management keeps you compliant.
4. Smaller carbon footprint - Reducing, reusing and recycling your building waste conserves the planet’s raw materials and minimises carbon emissions from landfills.

Contact The Waste Team for Building Waste Removal In Leeds

The Waste Team are a fully licensed waste carrier with over 20 years of industry experience. We’re trained in all waste types, including asbestos, and will recycle anything that comes our way.

Contact us for your FREE quote today.