Waste Management on Construction Sites

Construction and demolition waste accounts for over 60% of all waste produced in the UK each year.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty of care on everyone who produces, handles, or disposes of waste.
Waste must be classified as either inert, non-hazardous, or hazardous before it can be disposed of correctly.
A Waste Transfer Note (WTN) or Hazardous Waste Consignment Note must accompany every waste removal from site.
Only carriers holding a valid Environment Agency waste carrier licence may remove waste from a construction site.
The waste hierarchy requires us to prevent, reuse, recycle, recover energy, and dispose as a last resort.
Fly-tipping is a criminal offence carrying unlimited fines and up to five years' imprisonment upon conviction.
Contaminated waste such as oily rags, paint tins, and chemical containers must be segregated as hazardous waste.
Good waste segregation saves money — mixed skips cost significantly more to process than separated materials.
Site Waste Management Plans are best practice and help track waste volumes, types, and disposal routes.

Legal duty of care	Every person handling waste is personally responsible for ensuring it is stored, transferred, and disposed of lawfully.
Prevent fly-tipping	If your waste is fly-tipped by an unlicensed carrier, you can be prosecuted — the duty of care follows the waste.
Cost reduction	Proper segregation reduces disposal costs dramatically — recycled materials cost a fraction of mixed landfill disposal.
Environmental targets	Most clients set waste diversion targets of 90%+ from landfill — performance is measured and reported contractually.

Do

Don't

Segregate waste into the correct labelled skips and containers as you produce it.
Check that the waste carrier has a valid Environment Agency licence before loading.
Complete a Waste Transfer Note for every waste collection and keep copies on file.
Classify hazardous waste correctly and store it separately in a secure, labelled area.
Reuse materials where possible — offcuts, packaging, and pallets all have reuse value.
Keep waste storage areas tidy, covered where possible, and away from watercourses.
Order materials accurately to reduce waste — over-ordering creates unnecessary disposal costs.
Know the difference between inert, non-hazardous, and hazardous waste classifications.
Report any suspected illegal waste dumping or unlicensed carriers to the site manager.
Record waste volumes produced and removed to support the site waste tracking system.

DON'T put hazardous items like aerosols, batteries, or oils into general waste skips.
DON'T allow waste to accumulate across the site — clear work areas at end of day.
DON'T burn any waste on site including timber, packaging, or vegetation clearance materials.
DON'T use unlicensed waste carriers or allow waste to leave site without transfer documentation.
DON'T contaminate clean skips by adding the wrong material type — one item can reclassify a load.
DON'T pour liquid waste down drains, into excavations, or onto open ground.
DON'T remove waste from site in personal vehicles without proper authorisation and documentation.
DON'T leave skips uncovered in wet weather — rainwater adds weight and potential contamination.
DON'T overfill skips above the rim level — this is a safety and transport regulation breach.
DON'T assume someone else will sort it — waste duty of care applies to everyone on site.

See also: Waste Segregation on Site | Hazardous Waste Identification and Disposal

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