With the Construction boom for apartments and homes taking place in Sydney, it’s natural that construction Waste would have increased significantly. While the government has set down certain rules and regulations for construction rubbish removal, every builder – whether a company or an individual – needs to be responsible for the way they dispose of construction waste. Make sure you consider these factors when planning construction rubbish removals in Sydney.

What Does the Law Recommend for Rubbish Removal?

The Environment Protection Authority has introduced a series of guidelines for the construction and demolition sector to follow to ensure minimum standards of waste disposal are followed for environmental protection and community safety.

Construction sites have all kinds of rubbish – from bricks to contaminated soil to sandstone to concrete to plasterboard to asbestos and much more. These materials are typically collected in different stages of the construction and demolition process. In order to ensure that you remain under the purview of the law, you will need to speak to your rubbish removals vendor to find out how certain items need to be disposed in comparison to others. Consider the following:

• Hazardous waste like asbestos and contaminated soil will have very specific guidelines for disposal – make sure you check what they are and follow then to avoid hefty fines.
• Certain construction materials may need to be broken down before they are transported to the disposal site.
• Keep records of all construction materials going into the waste site.

Both the waste owner and transporter are obligated to prove that waste was transported to a legal facility. If waste is transported to a facility that doesn’t fall under the legal system, both may be liable for penalties, and will need to clean up and pay for the waste to be transported to a legal facility.

If waste is found to be illegally dumped and in a manner that is harmful to the environment, then the maximum penalty will either be a fine or jail time.

Ways to Avoid Penalties and Fines for Rubbish Removal

Failure to comply with legal recommendations could result in fines and penalties if you’re not careful. Consider the following to avoid them:

• Know the waste you generate in the excavation and construction process.
• Check the licence of the waste facility and ensure that it can accept waste legally.
• Don’t rely on word-of-mouth advice from contractors and managers, as you will not be able to defend yourself should a situation arise – make sure you follow the written guidelines.
• Have a proper waste management plan covering details of waste and the action plan to get rid of each type – detail the procedures, along with dates of completion to store accurate records.
• Describe roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in the rubbish removal process so that no one can shirk responsibility in case of unlawful disposal.
• Provide adequate supervision roles to ensure that waste management plans are properly implemented.
• Choose a rubbish removal company with a good reputation, along with registered ABN details to ensure that you choose one that complies with legal requirements.
• Don’t just choose the lowest quote when selecting a rubbish removal company – look for details on how waste will be disposed.
• Keep copies of receipts from the disposal facility, including date and time of the drop off.

Choosing the Right Rubbish Removal Company for Your Construction Waste Needs

Any Sydney rubbish removal company you choose should be able to take care of the clean-up process without breaking the law. Here’s what to look for:

• Adequate licences, referrals and number of years of experience
• Leaving the property in a clean state by offering a detailed plan on getting rid of construction waste
• Types of practices followed to ensure environmental protection
• Storage, handling, transport and transfer of waste practices followed
• Details of employees handling your waste – from drivers through to loaders

Since you are legally obligated to transport waste to a facility that accepts it, you must ensure that you choose a partner that can uphold your responsibilities to ensure no fines and penalties in the future. An experienced rubbish removals company will help you improve your sustainability practices, and will even advise you on smart ways to reduce landfill waste.

Remember to always keep accurate information as you may need to present it to specific government or supervision parties on request. A professional company handling rubbish removals in Sydney should be able to ensure that you remain within the guidelines of the law at all times.