New study shows construction projects can achieve zero waste
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In the global push to reduce emissions and material waste, construction remains a significant blind spot, particularly in regional areas. In countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, construction and demolition waste accounts for more than 60 percent of national waste. In the United Kingdom, more than 13 percent of this waste still ends up in landfill, despite efforts to promote recovery and reuse.
In rural and regional towns, the problem intensifies. Long distances to recycling facilities, limited infrastructure, and fewer economies of scale mean much of the waste, timber offcuts, steel, plasterboard, concrete, and packaging, is discarded instead of recovered. Global data indicates that up to 30 percent of construction materials are wasted before a project is completed.
The consequences are both environmental and economic. Local councils and contractors face mounting disposal costs, while missing out on savings from reuse. Although the circular economy has gained policy attention, it is rarely applied at the ground level, especially outside major cities.
CDU’s Alice Springs project proves zero waste is achievable
A study from Charles Darwin University demonstrates that construction projects in regional areas can significantly reduce waste. In Alice Springs, CDU reused building materials on-site, including glass doors, ceiling panels, and structural timber. These materials were recovered from buildings slated for demolition and incorporated into the new campus design.
What set this project apart was the early commitment to circular practices. Waste reduction targets were included in the initial procurement documents, and contractors were expected to prioritize reuse. The result was a sharp drop in materials sent to landfill.
The success of the CDU project points to the role of leadership in shaping outcomes. Without clear directives from the client, contractors are less likely to prioritize sustainability. When circularity is a requirement rather than an option, regional builders can rise to meet that standard, even without access to large-scale recycling plants.
Common barriers to circularity in remote construction projects
Although the CDU example provides a model for success, it also highlights barriers facing regional and remote projects. One of the most significant challenges is transport. Recycling centers may be hundreds of kilometers away, making it costly to divert materials from landfill.
Knowledge gaps are another issue. Many small-to-medium businesses in construction have little exposure to circular economy principles. Without training or access to new tools, contractors often follow traditional building practices that generate avoidable waste.
The lack of incentives is also a concern. Few public tenders require waste reduction strategies, and contractors face little accountability for landfill outcomes. Still, positive examples exist. In Darwin, NTEX Code Red has recovered more than 71,000 tonnes of concrete and asphalt since 2020, transforming it into usable road aggregate. The Kwinana Freeway expansion near Perth reused 25,000 tonnes of recycled concrete and resold 56,783 tonnes of sand. These projects succeeded due to a combination of infrastructure, policy support, and leadership, conditions that remain rare in many remote areas.
Procurement policy can unlock a circular construction future
To achieve consistent waste reduction in regional construction, public procurement must evolve. Circular economy principles should be embedded early, not added later. Project tenders can include mandatory reuse targets, waste management plans, and benchmarks tied to environmental ratings.
Financial support also matters. Offering rebates for material transport or recovery, and rewarding performance through sustainability ratings, can ease the burden on smaller contractors. Government agencies, as frequent clients in regional construction, have the authority to set these expectations across the sector.
In parallel, training is vital. Architects, designers, and tradespeople need to understand how to design and build with reuse in mind. Without these skills, even well-intentioned policies may fail to take hold.
Technological tools are helping shift the construction sector toward greater resource efficiency. Building Information Modelling, for instance, allows project teams to track materials before ground is even broken. This makes it easier to plan for reuse, minimize over-ordering, and reduce offcuts.
Modular construction offers another avenue. Components built off-site and designed for disassembly reduce on-site waste and simplify future recovery. Materials passports, digital logs of a building’s materials, are gaining traction, especially in European markets, as a way to support long-term reuse strategies.
Retrofit strategies are equally important. Reusing and upgrading existing buildings saves both carbon and materials. This is particularly relevant in regional towns where many older structures stand underused or neglected. Retrofits can lower costs, extend asset life, and reduce pressure on landfills.
What binds these approaches together is a shared emphasis on planning and design. With digital tools, clear client requirements, and investment in regional capacity, circular construction can be possible and practical.
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