Deconstructing construction waste: why collaboration is the solution to overflowing landfills

The construction and demolition industry in Australia contributes 20 million tons of waste to landfills each year, underscoring a pressing need to reconsider how we handle and select construction materials.

“Over the past few years, the carbon reduction and waste minimisation associated with building projects has been a focus for both architects and builders,” says Regan Williams, National Development Manager at Autex Acoustics® Australia.

Too often, once rubbish is thrown into a skip, picked up by a truck, and taken off-site, it’s out of mind, leaving the accumulation of waste in landfills unseen—a fact that doesn’t diminish the damage landfills cause to the environment.

Reducing and diverting waste from landfills can lessen the need for additional landfill sites, thereby decreasing land pollution, unsafe habitats for native wildlife, carbon emissions, and the production of single-use or hazardous materials.

While effective waste management on-site is crucial to realising this reality, architects can make a significant impact by choosing products designed to minimise waste.

On conversations with key market stakeholders, Williams says, “They are now putting more emphasis on selecting materials that have longer life spans and can be recycled in some format. If there are two like-for-like products and one has better sustainability credentials at a similar price, then that product will be selected. Price is obviously still a factor, and sustainable products still need to fit within the budget.”

Manufacturers play a vital role in ensuring architects have access to sustainable materials by developing and offering these products.

“Autex is pushing the boundaries in terms of practical solutions to our pre-consumer waste streams and product end-of-life recycling solutions.” Williams continues, “This will help push the industry forward and create a new normal for others in our industry. We’re doing this locally in the Australian market, however, Autex Acoustics has similar initiatives in every country we operate, creating a global impact in sustainable product solutions.”

Solving the construction waste problem requires more than just the efforts of individual suppliers, manufacturers, or architects. It demands collaboration across the entire industry.

“Collaboration is key when looking at market-changing products and initiatives. Both when the product is first installed by having mechanisms to reduce installation waste and at the product’s end-of-life with options for efficient recycling to occur. A lot of these processes are being created as we go, and all stakeholders are needed to adapt to ensure meaningful recycling outcomes.”