Construction and public works waste accounts for a significant proportion of the waste produced each year. This waste, generated by the construction, demolition and renovation of infrastructures, poses major environmental and economic challenges. This article explores the issues surrounding construction and public works waste and the solutions being implemented to manage it sustainably.
Construction waste is made up of a variety of materials, including concrete, bricks, wood, metal, plaster and plastics. In France, it accounts for around 70% of total waste production, or some 227.5 million tonnes a year. This waste falls into two main categories: inert waste, which undergoes no significant physical, chemical or biological changes once it has been landfilled (concrete, bricks, tiles, ceramics, etc.), and non-hazardous non-inert waste, which can undergo changes and requires specific treatment (treated wood, plaster, certain metals, etc.).
Inadequate management of construction waste can have a number of negative impacts on the environment, such as greenhouse gas emissions from the production, transport and treatment of waste, and soil and water pollution. These are caused by poorly managed waste and the degradation of the natural environment by landfill sites and illegal dumping, which damage biodiversity.
The first step towards sustainable management of construction waste is to reduce its production. This can be achieved through eco-design, which involves designing buildings and infrastructure to minimise the use of materials and facilitate their dismantling and recycling, as well as by re-using construction materials wherever possible.
Sorting waste at source is essential to optimise recycling. By separating the different types of waste, it is possible to recover materials:
As we have seen in this article, it is vital to be able to manage waste on the worksite simply. Beyond InSite‘s MyForm module is proving very useful for managing waste on worksites, thanks to its intuitive, customisable forms. By making it easy to collect and centralise data on the waste produced, this module enables worksite teams to monitor the status of waste management in real time, comply with environmental regulations and optimise recycling.
What’s more, by automating documentation and reporting processes, the MyForm module significantly reduces the risk of errors and non-compliance, while improving operational efficiency. So integrating MyForm into your construction and public works projects not only guarantees better management of your waste, but also contributes to a cleaner, more responsible worksite, while benefiting from an innovative, high-performance solution.
