Delivery and storage practices on building sites can be big contributors to unnecessary waste if not planned appropriately. There are two easy fixes people often overlook when it comes to making delivery and storage practices more sustainable:
- Just-in-time delivery practices
- Storage of materials on site
The basics
Just-in-time delivery practices
Appropriately storing materials on-site is particularly difficult if your goods are delivered long before you actually need them for the build. This can be easily avoided with good planning before your build begins.
When you order supplies, Mitre 10 can work with you on the logistics of deliveries for your project, so materials arrive precisely when you need them, so you won’t have to store large amounts of material on-site.
Material storage
Incorrect material storage can lead to damage or deterioration, which creates easily avoided waste.
There are several things you can do, including:
- Ensure your storage areas are secure, weatherproof, and not in the way (leftover materials could also be used to create a suitable storage area)
- Keep packaging on when not in use
- Try not to overorder or let others make you overorder - work with your Mitre 10 Trade team to manage order accuracy
- Inspect materials when they arrive, sending any damaged materials or products back to the supplier - don’t let damaged product add to your waste challenges
With just a tiny bit of planning, it’s relatively easy to organise your materials’ delivery to coincide with the relevant build stages of your construction project.
Below are some key things you should do to ensure a smooth delivery of goods:
- Talk to your Mitre 10 Trade Manager about your project planning and logistics, so the correct amount of material is brought to site when you need it, minimising the time between product arriving and its use in your project
- Make sure your delivery and storage areas are safe and dry
- Inspect materials when they arrive, sending any damaged materials or products back to the supplier - don’t let damaged product add to your waste challenges!
- Return any oversupply to Mitre 10, to reduce any unnecessary product damage or wastage
