As Construction Material Costs Soar 26%+, Here’s How to Cut on Waste Expenses

Rising, unstable material costs have soared upwards of 26%, a jump in the construction industry. The price volatility in material costs is unprecedented in the industry, according to records kept since the 1940s. Today, we’re seeing price increases of up to 123% for materials like steel, further complicating overall construction waste planning.

As demand for construction remains high, these cost hikes shrink profits. Stabilization for the entire industry is ideal, but until external stabilizing factors settle in, internal stabilizing factors must take precedence. Along with rising material costs, construction generates significant waste, which can add up financially and compound the strain on a construction business right now. Construction-related waste is a growing problem, and construction site managers can help alleviate some of the pressure by taking charge of waste costs; here’s how.

Just-in-time purchasing of reusable materials that ship in optimized packaging
While just-in-time purchasing will help reduce excess materials, your job site will still generate large amounts of construction waste. Find ways to reuse and recycle as much as possible to reduce your waste removal costs. Choose products with less packaging and that come in bulk containers. Not only will you cut down on waste on your site, but you will also save money on construction costs because workers can unpack and use materials more quickly.

When sourcing construction materials, where available, choose materials with minimal packaging or easily recyclable packaging to reduce waste-haul costs. Sustainable building materials that last longer or are reusable are valuable to source, such as reusable shipping crates that the construction company can keep or return to the manufacturer, and are becoming more widely adopted. Where possible, opt for reusable packaging, or inquire with your vendor whether they offer packaging options that support sustainable waste management to lighten your waste load.

Better site management
According to Plan Grid, construction site labor inefficiency totaled about $177 billion in 2018. Implementing better construction site management helps on many cost-saving fronts, including waste and labor waste. Improving site management makes for more efficient workflows, procedures, communication, check-ins, training, equipment care programs, and waste management practices aligned with waste minimization.

Construction waste audit – implement on-site recycling to reduce costs
Implementing waste audits and diversion plans for construction and demolition projects can significantly reduce waste and increase diversion, thereby lowering waste costs. Essentially, a waste audit helps management understand the current waste generated by all normal activities at a given construction or demolition job. What’s involved includes:

⦁ Measuring the quantity of waste and the materials involved.
⦁ Assessing how waste is being generated.
⦁ Addressing purchasing choices.
⦁ Helping to develop policies that can curtail waste production and increase waste diversion.

Reuse materials on other sites
Leveraging a reuse strategy from one site to another can help reduce material use and is evident in practices already prevalent, such as pouring foundations and scaffolding systems that carry over from one site to the next. For example, excess aluminum sheets cut for one job can be used for another, albeit smaller, job to reduce raw material waste and disposal fees. Habitually used items that can be carried over to other sites include carpet cuttings, drywall pieces, insulation, pipe cuttings, roofing shingles, tile flooring, and scrap wood. Implementing a reuse program for each major material is ideal for lessening waste and streamlining program strategies.

Recycle when not reusing
To the extent recyclable materials are used in construction, what cannot be reused can be recycled when proper management programs are in place. This requires a front-end examination of purchasing procedures to prioritize recyclable materials with viable post-use markets. Purchasing specifications can be identified for consistency across company projects, and identifying the primary raw materials used can be prioritized to make the biggest impact with fewer decisions. If recyclable materials aren’t easy to find, explore details with suppliers to better understand the materials they offer.

Donate materials for a tax deduction – rather than landfilling
When over-purchasing and demolition result in an excess of usable materials, carefully remove or disassemble items to salvage for charitable donation to places like Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Making construction donations of materials to places like the Construction Junction or the ReStore can serve as a tax write-off and lower disposal costs. If feasible and space permits, a quarterly sale can be advertised to the public for highly desired items such as windows, molding, cabinets, bathroom fixtures, and appliances. Localized efforts and partnerships with other companies can help distribute materials and reduce landfill dumping.

Train workers on waste programs
When programs are in place to handle waste correctly, trained workers will act as directed. Leave no room for deviation by implementing simple, sustainable systems. Workers will ideally be provided with appropriate training on source separation techniques and supplied with the tools to perform these tasks on job sites, supporting long-term sustainability and waste management goals.

Lower construction waste costs with results-driven providers like National Waste Associates
To reduce construction and demolition waste costs, partner with National Waste Associates and achieve incredible, cost-saving results. We have an extensive network, and our team of experts works across all locations to help implement waste strategies that are effective, easily managed, and deliver on cost savings and waste reduction. Choose NWA for professional construction waste management to help lower construction waste costs and offset skyrocketing material costs.
Would you like our experts to help your construction team lower waste costs?

Work with the NWA team to improve your ROI when material costs are out of control. See the difference in working with a waste services company that’s not a hauler and doesn’t own landfills. We help construction companies tackle waste costs once and for all.

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