Australia is on course to waste up to $64 billion in construction materials by 2030 unless urgent action is taken to improve how we recover resources, design and build structures in this country.
These are strong words from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) in a new report: Australia’s Waste[d] Opportunity 2025. The free report revealed the average construction project wastes 141 kg of material per square metre and sets new benchmarks, mandatory actions, and practical guidance for construction and fit-out waste.
Concrete, masonry and tiles account for the largest volume of discarded material, according to the report, followed by excavated soil, timber off-cuts, metals, and plasterboard.
GBCA believes these are typically over-ordered, mishandled or discarded during installation, and highlight a “big opportunity” to recover value through better planning and procurement.
Despite 83% of projects reporting landfill diversion rates of over 90%, the report states that 22% of materials used to construct a typical apartment never make it into the final building.
GBCA Chief Impact Officer, Jorge Chapa, said the materials wasted on construction sites represent more than just environmental loss.
“They’re lost economical value, lost emissions reductions, and lost opportunities to do better,” he explained.
Mr Chapa went on to say the data showed that even high-performing developments were being held back by inconsistent reporting and “broken waste systems”.
It’s time to shift from measuring what’s diverted to landfill, he added, to tracking where materials actually go – and how much we’re losing along the way.
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia, at the helm since December 2013, and our weekly news writer since 2016. Focused on concrete and construction for more than 11 years, her expertise in this field forms part of a journalism career spanning three decades. To get in touch please email desi@corbettcomms.com