How to manage construction and demolition waste
Find out how to manage and dispose of construction and demolition waste.
Construction and demolition (C&D) activities generate a range of industrial waste materials including:
If you don’t manage construction and demolition waste in the right way, it can harm human health and the environment.
There is legislation and guidelines for the correct management of solid waste from civil and construction and demolition sites.
Under section 27A(2) of the Environment Protection Act 1970 (EP Act), any person (including a waste generator, transporter or receiver) who dumps or permits the inappropriate disposal of industrial waste at a place that cannot lawfully accept that waste type faces a fine of more than $7500, or up to 5000 penalty units if prosecuted. EPA can require the waste generator, transporter and receiver to clean up and pay for waste to be taken to a lawful place.
Find out how we calculate fees and fines.
To find a facility near you that can accept industrial waste, such as a landfill, transfer station or recycling facility, contact your local council or regional waste management group.
More information:
As a waste generator, you are legally responsible for ensuring waste is taken to a facility that can lawfully accept it. You cannot rely on the word of others, such as waste transporters, sub-contractors or managers of waste facilities. Waste receipt dockets from an approved waste disposal facility are your only guarantee that waste from your site is going to the right place.
As a waste transporter, it’s your responsibility to know what type of waste you’re transporting and that the disposal location can lawfully accept it. Relying on advice from others, such as consultants, contractors or managers of waste facilities, is no defence for taking waste to a place that cannot lawfully be used as a waste facility.
Individual landowners who accept industrial waste such as bricks and concrete onto their land may find themselves liable to fines, prosecution and cleanup costs. Once the waste is on your property, it is your responsibility.
EPA and local councils will not clean up waste for private landowners or occupiers of private land.
While not a requirement, preparing and implementing a waste management plan ahead of demolition is an effective way of managing lawful waste disposal. The level of detail in the waste management plan should reflect the size and complexity of the project's waste issues.
A good plan would include:
At any time, you can be asked to supply information about your waste. Ensure all relevant information is disclosed, such as:
The maximum penalty for supplying false or misleading information about waste to EPA is $373,104.
Reducing large-scale dumping of industrial waste (including construction and demolition waste) is a priority for EPA’s Illegal Dumping Strikeforce program.
Where you suspect someone is handling waste unlawfully or illegally dumping waste, you can report illegal waste disposal.
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This page was copied from EPA's old website. It was last updated on 29 July 2019.
Reviewed 9 December 2021