What is construction and demolition waste?
Construction and demolition activities can generate a wide range of different waste materials. This waste is not just rubbish and unwanted material, but also includes
- excavated material such as rock and soil
- waste asphalt, bricks, concrete, plasterboard, timber and vegetation
- asbestos and contaminated soil
The advice on this page covers all wastes that may be generated as part of construction and demolition activities, including ‘building and demolition waste’ as defined in the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.
Construction and demolition waste: a management toolkit and owner’s guide
The EPA recommends procurement officers and construction project managers be familiar with how their contractors and subcontractors manage and dispose of waste.
The Construction and Demolition Waste Management Toolkit (PDF 755 KB) and Owners Guide (PDF 22KB) are designed to help procurement officers and construction project managers to engage contractors and work on contracts that involve construction and demolition.
The toolkit and guide detail how to reduce the risk of unlawful or fraudulent behaviour by contractors and subcontractors during the tender, contract and project management phases of construction and demolition (C&D) projects.
Waste must be transported to a lawful place
Section 143 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 requires waste to be transported to a place that can lawfully accept it.
Both the owner of the waste and the transporter are legally responsible for proving the waste was transported to a lawful place.
The owner of the waste and the transporter are each guilty of an offence when waste is transported to a place that cannot lawfully be used as a waste facility. The owner of the waste and the transporter can be ordered to clean up and pay for such waste to be taken to a lawful place.
Relying on advice from others, such as consultants, contractors or managers of waste facilities, is no defence for transporting waste to a place that cannot lawfully be used as a waste facility.
Owners of waste can protect themselves from fines and hefty penalties if they can show they did not transport the waste and can prove that
- the offence was due to causes over which they had no control, and
- they took reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to prevent commission of the offence
If waste is illegally dumped and harms the environment, the maximum penalty is $5 million or seven years jail.
How to avoid fines and penalties
- Know what types of waste will be generated during excavation, demolition and construction.
- If a quote for managing waste is low, find out why. The company may be avoiding costs by transporting the waste to a place that cannot lawfully be used as a waste facility.
- Check the council development consent and environment protection licence for the waste facility to make sure it can lawfully accept the waste. Provide the waste facility with details of the waste (classification, origin and quantity).
- Prepare and implement a waste management plan that includes
- details of each type of waste that will be generated, and the management action proposed for each type of waste
- procedures that ensure the waste is transported to a lawful place
- a description of the roles and responsibilities of everyone who manages the waste, including the site supervisor and subcontractors
- The level of detail in the waste management plan should reflect the size and complexity of the project's waste issues.
- Regularly update the waste management plan to record how waste is managed and audit where waste is taken.
- Provide adequate supervision to ensure waste management plans are implemented and complied with, and regularly audit everyone who manages waste on your behalf.
- Provide training about the waste management plan and protecting the environment.
- Keep accurate written records such as
- who transported the waste (company name, ABN, vehicle registration and driver details, date and time of transport, description of waste)
- copies of waste dockets/receipts from the waste facility (date and time of delivery, name and address of the facility, its ABN, contact person).
You can be asked to supply information about waste
At any time, you can be asked to supply information about waste, such as:
- its type, classification, characteristics, composition or quantity
- its storage, transport, handling, transfer, disposal, processing, recycling, recovery, re-use or use
- the hazards or potential harm to the environment or human health associated with the waste or activities relating to the waste.
When supplying information about waste, ensure all relevant information is disclosed, such as:
- waste assessment and classification reports, including sampling methodologies and laboratory analysis for potentially harmful materials
- written procedures and plans for managing waste, including handling and storage procedures, and incident response plans
- development applications, including waste management plans
- site assessments including contaminated site assessments, and environmental and geotechnical studies.
The maximum penalty for unknowingly supplying false or misleading information about waste is $250,000 for a corporation or $120,000 for an individual.
The maximum penalty for knowingly supplying false or misleading information is $500,000 for a corporation or for an individual $240,000 or 18 months imprisonment, or both.
Reporting illegal activity
If you suspect someone is handling waste unlawfully or illegally dumping waste, contact Environment Line on 131 555.