Guide for the re-use of construction and demolition waste

The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has released a guide to assist in the development of effective markets for the re-use of construction and demolition waste.

The ‘Construction and Demolition Waste Guide - recycling and re-use across the supply chain’ draws on Australian case studies to highlight the best practice waste management and resource recovery in the construction and demolition sector and to address a common perception that the re-use of this type of waste is too difficult.

The guide highlights 15 case studies on the effective uses for construction and demolition waste. The case studies showcase big and small projects undertaken in metropolitan and regional areas across Australia using a variety of construction and demolition wastes, and both refurbished and new projects, demonstrating that the re-use of construction and demolition waste is not novel and can deliver effective, fit-for-purpose outcomes.

The guide can be accessed on the department’s website: http://www.environment.gov.au/wastepolicy/publications/case-studies.html.

Following on from the release of the guide, the department has launched a knowledge store on the National Waste Policy website dedicated to showcasing documents and case studies that relate to the recycling and re-use, avoidance and reduction of waste. It can be accessed at http://www.environment.gov.au/wastepolicy/knowledge-store/index.html.

All Australian, state, territory and local governments, industry, and community organisations are invited to submit case studies for possible inclusion in the store. A list of categories, example case studies and guidelines for inclusion can be accessed on the department’s website: http://www.environment.gov.au/wastepolicy/knowledge-store/case-study-guidelines.html.