The Different Types of Construction Waste

Different Types of Construction Waste

What is Construction Waste?

Construction Waste, often referred to as Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste, is the by-product of waste materials generated during construction, renovation, or demolition. It includes a variety of materials that are no longer needed and need to be disposed of.

 

How much Construction Waste is Produced in the UK?

According to Defra’s UK statistics on Waste, the UK produced 222 million tonnes of waste in 2018.

The construction industry was the highest producing sector with over 137 million tonnes, making up 61% of overall UK Waste in 2018.

 

What are the Most Common Types of Construction Waste?

 

Here is a complete list of all waste generated by the construction industry in 2018.

EWC Stat Waste Type Volume (Tonnes)
12.1 Mineral waste from construction & demolition 65,135,530
12.6 Soils 58,105,809
12.7 Dredging spoils 11,318,836
06.1 Metallic wastes, ferrous 1,156,855
07.5 Wood wastes 641,501
06.3 Metallic wastes, mixed 603,846
06.2 Metallic wastes, non-ferrous 413,437
07.1 Glass wastes 104,198
07.4 Plastic wastes 98,284
10.1 Household & similar wastes 80,874
12.2, 12.3, 12.5 Other mineral wastes 37,220
12.8, 13 Mineral waste from waste treatment & stabilised waste 35,952
10.3 Sorting residues 23,391
07.2 Paper & cardboard waste 20,762
09.2 Vegetal wastes 8,538
08* Discarded equipment 4,249
10.2 Mixed & undifferentiated materials 3,686
01.1 Spent solvents 3,161
07.3 Rubber wastes 1,171
01.4, 02, 03.1 Chemical wastes 390
07.6 Textile wastes 163
03.2 Industrial effluent sludges 108
08.1 Discard vehicles 100
09.1 Animal & mixed food waste 95
11 Common sludges 72
07.7 Waste containing PCB 2
01.3 Used Oil 2
TOTAL 137,798,233

 

Source:

ENV23 – UK statistics on waste – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)