In all thriving areas there is a fairly continual concurrent effort to both support growth, while also mitigating any negative impacts to the environment. Often, this can look and feel like two opposing intentions: demolition and construction typically doesn’t conjure up thoughts of eco-consciousness. However, the demolition industry is actually bound by a lot of regulations and requirements that keep it accountable to environmental responsibility. There are several key elements that have held the demolition to account…
Compliance with regulations
In Australia, when demolition companies are tasked with breaking down buildings and dealing with and disposing of leftover materials, they have to follow very strict rules to protect the environment. These rules say that companies need special permission from the government to make sure they do everything the right way when they knock down buildings and manage the stuff that's left behind. There are three main areas of compliance to environmentally responsible regulations:
Waste management
Effective waste management is essential to minimise the impact of demolition on the environment. Demolition companies must comply with regulations governing the segregation, recycling, and disposal of demolition waste, including concrete, timber, metal, and other materials. There are specific requirements for the proper handling of hazardous materials, such as oils, chemicals, and contaminated soils, to prevent soil and groundwater contamination.
Asbestos management
Proper handling and disposal of asbestos-containing materials is a significant environmental concern in the demolition industry. Demolition companies must adhere to strict regulations regarding the identification, removal, and disposal of asbestos to prevent the release of harmful fibres into the environment. This includes the need for licensed asbestos removalists and the use of approved disposal facilities.
Air and noise pollution control
Demolition activities can generate dust and noise pollution that may affect the surrounding environment and public health. Compliance with regulations to control air and noise pollution is crucial. Demolition companies must implement measures to reduce dust emissions and control noise levels, including using water suppression systems, dust barriers, and scheduling work during permitted hours to minimise disruption to nearby communities.
Reuse and recycling
When buildings are demolished, it's not a case of all materials then becoming unwanted waste. The dwelling as a whole might not have been required, but its parts could be useful. A big part of sustainability is getting the most out of the life cycle of materials. Reusing and recycling material minimises landfill waste, and can be an incredible resource for new and innovative products. Our skip bin service comes with our industry-leading recycling facility to sort out reusable usable waste from standard waste, so that you don’t have to do that leg work. We know what can be used, and how, to meet environmental responsibilities and regulations.
Environmental impact assessments
The Environmental Impact Assessment in NSW helps find out if the demolition work could cause problems for nature and the environment, like animals and plants. If there's a risk, they come up with ways to improve the assessment by using protective measures, so that the damage is as mitigated as possible, if not completely removed.
In Australia, the demolition industry is changing for the better. Companies and groups are joining in to make sure they're kinder to the environment, alleviating their carbon footprint and ensuring growth doesn’t mean negative disruption. We are working with them to keep them compliant and to regulations, while also doing our part to make demolished materials as sustainable as possible.
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