What happens to waste on a construction site?

You'll find a variety of materials on a construction site. These include concrete, bricks, tiles, cement, and ceramics; wood (including flooring), glass and plastic; insulation material like asbestos.

Recycling materials such as glass, paper and certain types of plastic has many benefits. First, it helps to conserve natural resources such as trees, water and fossil fuels that are necessary for their production. Second, recycling reduces the number of landfills we need and reduces the amount of greenhouse gases released into our environment when those products are disposed of in landfills. Thirdly, recycling may also be required by local laws so it’s important for contractors to be aware of what can and cannot be recycled on their site.

Some waste materials need careful handling, and disposal is classified as hazardous waste, or toxic waste. This includes items such as paints and solvents, pesticides, batteries, oils and fuels. Toxic wastes are often moved from one location to another on site in steel drums with a secure lid; this is done using hand-operated lifting equipment. In addition to general health and safety precautions for all workers on site (such as wearing appropriate clothing), there are specific additional measures required when dealing with toxic substances:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be always worn while handling these materials; this may include respirators, dust masks or protective eyewear
• The area where hazardous substances are being stored must be clearly labelled
• A safe place must be designated nearby where any spillages can be cleaned up as soon as possible

Other hazardous materials include asbestos-containing materials and insulation. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was used in many building materials before it was discovered to be harmful. It can be found in insulation, floor tiles and cement pipes. If you suspect that there may be asbestos on your construction site, contact your local council immediately so they can assess the situation and decide if any action needs to be taken.

In order to determine what action, they should take with waste, contractors will often hire an environmental consultant at least once during a project—usually when they first get started on site—to help them identify any potentially dangerous or toxic materials that need special handling procedures for disposal.

The construction industry is a big part of our lives and it’s important that we take care of it so it can continue to grow. That means disposing of waste properly, recycling where possible and finding new ways to reuse materials. Hopefully this article has given you some insight into how construction sites deal with their waste.