Is waste on a construction project inevitable? We’ve come a long way in Aotearoa New Zealand with our management of construction waste, but there’s still many a project where, when timelines are tight and the pressure is on, the priorities shift. Bins fill up, materials are discarded and landfill becomes the default option.
With thanks to Mark Williams for his input into this article. Mark is a PM and Associate Director in our business and member of our Sustainability Steering Group.
Waste is rarely accidental. It’s the result of decisions (or missed decisions) that are often made long before work begins on site. This actually presents an easy opportunity for improvement, because when you have solid project management from the outset, effective waste management and diversion can be targeted, and become a natural output.
In our business, in service of this goal, we’ve made a conscious decision to move away from viewing waste diversion as purely a “green initiative” and instead have installed it as an every-day project task within our project management approach. It’s also a part of our broader commitment as a certified B Corporation to deliver responsible and enduring outcomes.
The missed opportunity
Recent data and reporting shows that construction and demolition waste makes up 40-50% of all waste sent to landfill in New Zealand. While the data doesn’t reveal the myriad reasons why, one strong theory is that often waste is addressed too late in the process. By the time a project reaches site:
- Waste streams have not been clearly defined.
- Site layouts do not support separation of waste/recycling.
- Contractors are left to manage disposal at the lowest upfront cost and under programme pressure.
It’s a predictable result then, to see that materials which could have been recovered or reused are instead sent to landfill. It’s not a failure of effort on site, so much as a gap in early-state planning and coordination.
What does ‘good’ look like?
Instead of treating waste diversion as an add-on, make it part of core project delivery and then see the outcomes change significantly. This comes down to a few fundamental steps:
- Early alignment: setting expectations with clients, contractors and suppliers before work begins.
- As a rule, include waste reduction and diversion KPI’s in your consultant agreements and construction contracts (to flow through to subcontracts too).
- Establishing clear site systems to enable effective sorting and handling of materials.
- Measurement and visibility: tracking waste streams, so progress can be understood and improved. Importantly, celebrate the wins and share them, as this encourages a sense of real achievement and makes the impact a reality for all stakeholders and our communities.
- Build shared responsibility, ensuring the whole project team is working toward the same outcomes.
As you can see, these are the same principles that underpin all effective and well-managed projects: clarity, co-ordination and follow through. There’s no need to build in time and effort for environmental ‘extras’, because you can incorporate it into your regular project plan.
There are plenty of large construction projects in New Zealand that demonstrate that this is achievable. A recent example is Naylor Love’s project with AUT, where they achieved a diversion rate of 90% of all project waste. The story of their roadmap to adopting more environmentally sustainable practices is particularly interesting and inspiring.
A practical example: Auckland Girls’ Grammar School
We’re pleased to be able to share our own positive example, in the remediation and redevelopment work that we project managed at Auckland Girls’ Grammar school.
We embedded waste diversion early on in the project, supported by commitment and collaboration between our own project team, the main contractor, RCC Remediate Ltd, their various subcontractors and waste provider Waste Management, or WM as they are now known, and of course, great support from the school itself. Systems were established to separate materials and track recovery, ensuring visibility from the outset.
The results speak to what is possible when these fundamentals are in place:
- A high proportion of materials diverted from landfill (over 90%)
- Recovery of key waste streams, including construction mixed recycling and cardboard.
- Reduced reliance on general waste disposal.
More importantly, these outcomes were achieved not through additional complexity, but through intentional planning and disciplined delivery.
Example: Dashboard report showing effective waste diversion
Connecting waste to carbon
The issue of waste is also more than just its disposal; it’s directly linked to a project’s carbon footprint.
When we send materials to landfill, emissions are generated through transport, processing and decomposition. When instead those same materials are recovered, recycled or reused, it impacts the demand for new materials, lowering the overall carbon impact. Waste diversion is one of the most practical and visible ways to reduce emissions on a project. For organisations focused on environmental performance, this creates a helpful tangible link between the decisions made day-to-day, and broader carbon outcomes.
Added simplicity
Waste diversion doesn’t need to add cost or complexity, it’s the most efficient use of materials, provides clear evidence of responsible project delivery, provides alignment with sustainability goals, and overall better outcomes for projects and communities. Plus, there is a cost control element.
In New Zealand, landfill costs continue to rise, with the waste disposal levy for Class 2, 3 and 4 rising in recent years and projected to increase.
The commercial case for waste diversion is being consistently demonstrated in those projects achieving high percentages of waste diversion. For example, in the AUT project we mentioned earlier, landfill costs were reduced by 40%.
A shift in expectations
In 2026, we believe that waste shouldn’t be seen as a “nice to have” but as a normal part of good project delivery. When projects are well planned, when expectations are clear, and when teams work together with shared intent, better environmental outcomes follow naturally.
That is where we see the industry heading, and it is where we are committed to continue playing our part. The goal is to deliver outcomes that stand the test of time, for our clients, communities and our treasured environment.
We can help
Read more about our approach to sustainability.
Looking for project management with sustainability in mind? Read more about our PM services.
