1. A waste is any solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material that is being discarded by disposal, recycling, burning or incineration. It can be by product of a manufacturing process or an obsolete commercial product that can no longer be used for intended purpose and requires disposal 

2. Types of waste

2.1 Solid (non-hazardous) wastes generally include any garbage, refuse.

2.2 Hazardous waste shares the properties of a hazardous material (e.g. ignitability, corrosively, reactivity, or toxicity), or other physical, chemical, or biological characteristics that may pose a potential risk to human health or the environment if improperly managed. 

2.3 Sludge comes from a waste treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility.

3. Prevention of waste: The primary effort therefore should be to engage in waste prevention and reduce the amount of waste generated in the first place i.e. minimise the resources needed to do the job. Prevention is financially advantageous as it reduces the purchase of construction materials and obviates the need to remove wastes from site. 

4. Best Practices: Here are a few guidelines to minimize waste on site:

 A tidy site cares for the environment and it is safety efficiency

 Always follow waste separation procedures by using suitable labelled containers 

 Ensure that waste containers are lose to the point of operation

 Do not store waste near water as this can create water pollution and a hazardous effect on the environment

 Some materials can be reused, like brick and concrete as a fill on site

 Collect all old oil in drums and call an oil waste removal company, do not throw it on the ground as this can lead to soil and water pollution

 Handle masonry units carefully to avoid breakages

 Follow manufacturer instructions on use and stacking/storage

 Keep materials which quickly spoil by damp conditions in dry storage units

 Tins, containers and barrels can be resealed

 Before you start your job make sure you have the correct items to work with

5. Contact a registered waste management contractor who comply with Environmental Protection regulations to remove waste from the site.

6. Keep records of all waste bins, when they were cleaned, by which company

7. Where you can implement a recycling project on your site, acquire the correct bins and work accordingly.

8. Types of waste

8.1Solid (non-hazardous) wastes generally include any garbage, refuse. Examples of such waste include domestic trash and garbage; inert construction / demolition materials; refuse, such as metal scrap and empty containers (except those previously used to contain hazardous materials which should, in principle, be managed as a hazardous waste); and residual waste from industrial operations, such as boiler slag, clinker, and fly ash.

8.2 Hazardous waste shares the properties of a hazardous material (e.g. ignitability, corrosively, reactivity, or toxicity), or other physical, chemical, or biological characteristics that may pose a potential risk to human health or the environment if improperly managed. Wastes may also be defined as “hazardous” by local regulations or international conventions, based on the origin of the waste and its inclusion on hazardous waste lists, or based on its characteristics.

8.3 Sludge from a waste treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility, and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial operations needs to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to establish whether it constitutes a hazardous or a non-hazardous waste.

9. Prevention of Waste

The primary effort therefore should be to engage in waste prevention and reduce the amount of waste generated in the first place i.e. minimise the resources needed to do the job. Prevention is financially advantageous as it reduces the purchase of construction materials and obviates the need to remove wastes from site. It is important to emphasise the potential for certain purchasing procedures to contribute to a reduction in excessive material wastage on site. Examples include:

➢ ensuring materials are ordered on an “as needed” basis to prevent over supply to site;

➢ purchasing coverings, panelling or other materials in shape, dimensions and form that minimises the creation of excessive scrap waste on site;

➢ ensuring correct storage and handling of construction materials to minimise generation of damaged materials/waste e.g. keeping deliveries packaged until they are ready to be used;

➢ ensuring correct sequencing of operations; and

➢ assigning individual responsibility (through appropriate contractual arrangements) to sub-contractors for the purchase of raw materials and for the management of wastes arising from their activities, thereby ensuring that available resources are not expended in an extravagant manner at the expense of the main contractor.

➢ Substituting raw materials or inputs with less hazardous or toxic materials, or with those where processing generates lower waste volumes

➢ Applying manufacturing process that convert materials efficiently, providing higher product output yields, including modification of design of the production process, operating conditions, and process controls50

➢ Instituting good housekeeping and operating practices, including inventory control to reduce the amount of waste resulting from materials that are out-of-date, off specification, contaminated, damaged, or excess to plant needs

➢ Instituting procurement measures that recognize opportunities to return usable materials such as containers and which prevents the over ordering of materials

➢ Minimizing hazardous waste generation by implementing stringent waste segregation to prevent the commingling of non-hazardous and hazardous waste to be managed