Waste Management Plans

What is it and why does it matter?

A Waste Management & Minimisation Plan (WMMP) outlines how and when large volumes of waste will be managed on site, with the aim of reducing landfill waste. It can help builders save money, time, and resources, as well as meet client and regulatory expectations.

The important thing to remember when completing a WMMP is that it should be unique to you, your area, and your build – it’s not a one-size-fits-all thing, though there are some broad aspects which apply to everyone, so let’s start with them.

Just want to start?

If you already know what you’re doing, and just need a template to get going, then Mitre 10 has an easy-to-use WMMP template.

The basics

Your WMMP includes:

A list of the types of waste materials expected from the project
Goals and objectives for waste reduction
Options for eliminating, reducing or recycling waste
Ways to measure and track progress
Roles and responsibilities for waste management on site

How to use a WMMP template

There are heaps of WMMP templates available - some very simple, some more detailed. But they all have the same goal – to help you reduce waste from your job site by avoiding it as much as possible in the first place, reusing materials, or recycling them.

You can download a simple Mitre 10 one here. If you’re finding it difficult to use, our Trade team would love to help you through it.

Putting it into practice

There are heaps of different WMMPs out there, so choose a plan that works for you and your team
Make one person responsible for the plan – reducing waste is a team effort, but it helps to have someone championing it
Estimate the types and percentage of waste that will be produced (e.g. on average 13% of plasterboard used on a job is wasted)
Work out what bins you’ll need for those waste types and when during the build you might need them (working with your waste providers can make this easier)
Set reduction goals
Determine options for reuse and recycling (working with your waste providers can make this easier, too)
Measure your progress and record it
Celebrate your wins – Friday shouts are a great way to reward your team for their hard work
Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. The main thing is to make a start and record the data. You can always make changes as you go.

At the end of each project, review the WMMP with your crew to see what worked, what didn’t, and what could be improved. Compare the actual waste data with your goals and objectives and celebrate what you’ve achieved. Share it with your client, too. Then, if necessary, update and adjust the WMMP for your next project.

Need a template to start with? We’ve created an easy-to-use WMMP template for you to download.

Extra for experts

If you really want to deep dive into WMMPs, BRANZ has developed a list of excellent resources.

Collecting and separating materials on site is a great way to reduce waste. So, one of the best ways to ensure your Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) succeeds, and it’s easier for your team to do the right thing, is to have a well thought out, easy-to-use waste and recycling system.

Just focus on three things – what bins you need, when you need them, and what happens when they’re full.

The basics

What bins do you need?

Once you’ve done your WMMP, you should know what waste streams you’ll have, the rough quantities, and when during the build you’ll have those volumes of waste. Knowing all that, you should be able to work out what bins you need.

You’ll also want to consider:

How will the material be removed? Do you need to allow space for loaders, trucks etc? Is it easiest if they all fit on the back of a ute or trailer? Do they need pockets or handles so your waste provider truck can pick them up?
Could you reuse containers you already have on site?
Could you build bins from scrap materials you already have on site?
Best practice is to locate bins near the work area – consider how they’ll be moved around the site
Use clear and standard signs with pictures - download A3 signs or A4 signs

When do you need each bin?

When you look at your waste streams, you might have 15 different types, but that doesn’t mean you’ll need 15 bins. For example, you might only need clean-fill bins during the earthworks part of the build, and you only need to collect plasterboard offcuts during lining.

If you plan out when each waste stream begins and ends, you can match the bins you need to the timeframe of the waste stream. This means you don’t need to dedicate as much space to your bins, either, which is particularly good if you’re working on a confined site.

You don’t have to do this alone, especially on larger projects. Talk to your Mitre 10 Trade rep or your waste provider if you need help.

Working with your waste providers

For some people, sorting their materials on site, then doing a weekly trip to the local diversion facilities with a trailer or ute is enough.

For larger projects where transportation and handling are more difficult, we suggest you partner with your local waste management or resource and recovery specialists.

Working with a waste provider to reduce your waste to landfill requires a collaborative approach. Your conversation should focus on waste reduction, resource recovery, and sustainable practices (which are not always focused on price).

There are plenty of great businesses that can help with collection, sorting, transportation, and diversion of a range of materials. BRANZ and EIC have heaps of info on them; or talk to your local council about who they recommend.

Your waste provider is just as important as the subbies you have working on site - make sure you discuss with them:

what services they offer, e.g. separated material bins and collection, organic waste processing
reporting on waste - so you can track how well you’re doing
targets for diversion in your WMMP – these should consider advice around local recycling or reuse initiatives

Putting it into practice

Not all your bins have to be the same size, or even stored in the same place. Try to be flexible in how you plan your recycling and waste system.

For example, it makes sense to have your scrap timber bin near to where the cutting is happening, so there’s as little distance as possible for your team to travel. The less interruption waste-sorting creates in their workflow, the more likely they’ll do it.

The other great thing about using smaller bins is you have more flexibility than a skip! You can also swap out bins to match the phase of the build, e.g. you don’t need a plasterboard bin during excavation.

Depending on the size of your site, you could

have smaller bins which are regularly emptied
separate and take materials to your local reuse / recovery centre yourself
use larger bins that are collected less frequently

Don’t forget your signage. Clear, easy-to-read signs will keep it easy for your team to know which bin to use. We have templates you can download here:

Work smarter, not harder

Construction and demolition waste processing varies hugely across the motu - not every region collects or processes the same sorted materials.

Talk to your waste provider or local council to make sure you are sorting and collecting the materials which can be processed in your area.

Case study

Green Gorilla: Demolishing Auckland's industrial waste stream

Construction and demolition material is the largest source of waste going to municipal landfills. In Auckland, nearly 570,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste goes to landfill each year. A Kiwi-owned company, Green Gorilla, is tackling this significant waste stream. To do this, they have received over $5 million in financial support from the Waste Minimisation Fund.

Green Gorilla process about 6000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste each month in their custom-built waste processing facility in Onehunga, which opened in 2012. Around 75 per cent of the construction and demolition materials Green Gorilla processes are diverted from Auckland landfills for recycling on-site or supplied to other organisations for recycling or reuse.

Waste timber is a large component of the construction and demolition waste received (20 to 30 per cent) and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions in landfills. Green Gorilla diverts treated and non-treated timber by separating it out and processing it into products such as biofuel, landscaping wood chip, and animal bedding. Green Gorilla also collects and processes steel, paper and gypsum.

Taken from: https://environment.govt.nz/publications/aotearoa-new-zealands-first-emissions-reduction-plan/waste/

Extra for Experts

Wondering what waste can be sorted and processed in your area? Check out the links below