The Wasteful Builders: How the Construction Industry is Harming New Zealand’s Environment

Construction waste is a massive problem in New Zealand, and the building industry needs to be held accountable. According to a report by the Ministry for the Environment, the construction and demolition sector is responsible for around one-third of the country’s waste. This is a staggering amount, and it highlights the need for builders to take more responsibility for their waste.

One of the biggest issues with construction waste is the sheer amount of materials that are thrown away without being reused or recycled. On any building site in New Zealand, you will likely find a skip bin filled with perfectly good materials that could have been used on another job, sold to DIY enthusiasts, or even recycled. This is not only wasteful, but it also harms the environment and costs the homeowner money.

The lack of care & the lack of awareness of this matter from builders is staggering, like many builders who just build to the building code they do the bare minimum that is required to do their job and don’t care about the environment. Yes there are a small handful of builders out there that do actively reduce waste on building sites and these builders should be promoted and commended for their actions but unfortunately, they are the minority. Many builders simply don’t focus on recycling or reusing materials, and they don’t give the time or effort to invest in finding out how to reduce their impact on the environment. Additionally, there is often a lack of recycling facilities available on building sites, making it difficult for builders to recycle materials even if they want to.

I have touched on the fact that suppliers should be mandated to recycle their own materials in a previous article but what good would that be if the builders doing the work keep throwing the materials in the bin? The biggest problem is the lack of incentives for builders to recycle and reuse materials. The current system rewards builders who throw materials away quickly and cheaply, rather than those who take the time and effort to recycle or reuse them. This needs to change if we want to see a reduction in construction waste.

To tackle this problem, the New Zealand government should consider implementing a “skip tax” on builders. This tax could be used to fund recycling and waste management programs, as well as to provide incentives for builders who take steps to reduce their waste. If there is going to be a “fart tax” for farmers why not bring in a tax for the wasteful builders? Additionally, it could also be used to fund research and development of sustainable building materials and methods.

Even just putting recycling facilities on every site would boost the adoption, if people knew there was somewhere dedicated to put timber or metal that would be a great start. Recycling efforts should be a priority just like H&S, if there is a first aid kit on every site why not recycle?

I went on a building site today to see a skip filled with materials that could easily have been onsold or used at the next building site if stored in a dry place. It’s clear that the building industry in New Zealand needs to take more responsibility for its waste. By implementing a “skip tax,” providing more education and awareness about recycling and reusing materials, and encouraging builders to invest in sustainable building methods, we can help to reduce construction waste and protect the environment.