Building and construction sites can cause pollution through waste and noise.

As a builder or construction worker, you must minimise your impact on the environment and local community.

Our guidance for the construction industry includes information on:

The industrial waste resource guidelines (IWRG) consolidate waste publications under the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009 and provide links to useful resources.

How to manage risks from construction

The construction sector guide (publication 1820) can help you identify which of your activities could cause harm from pollution and waste. It outlines a simple four-step process to help you manage your risks.

The guide includes information about:

  • your legal obligations, starting with the general environmental duty
  • EPA’s approach to compliance and enforcement
  • common hazards in construction.  

Guide for civil construction, building and demolition

The Civil construction, building and demolition guide (publication 1834) aims to contribute to your understanding of good environmental practice under new environment protection laws. It provides information about new duties, how to identify risk, and control options you can put in place to manage risk.

Read more about construction noise

Noise guidance for business: Residential construction

Noise guidance for business: Commercial construction

Noise guidance for business: Land development

Reviewed 9 December 2021