Bricklaying - how to cut waste and costs
The waste problems that bricklayers face and how they can reduce costs, waste and their environmental impact.
Bricklayers' waste has particular problems, for example:
- water that's been in contact with cement powder or workable concrete can be highly alkaline and may need to be dealt with as hazardous waste
- concrete contains chromium, which is polluting to watercourses and groundwater
- washout water from trucks and mixers must never be allowed to enter storm water drains
For more information, see dealing with hazardous waste and preventing water pollution.
As a bricklayer, you can save money and reduce your environmental impact in a number of ways, including:
- knowing how to handle hazardous waste and checking whether the site you're working on is registered for hazardous waste
- reducing the amount of wasted materials - eg avoid throwing away mortar, cut bricks or insulation
- knowing the different waste types you produce and separating them when you can
- sending back pallets - don't waste space in a skip
- storing and reusing washout water, allowing the silt to settle and disposing of it responsibly
- knowing the products you use and reading any product labels
- using fletton commons as these use less energy to make than other bricks
- using blocks with a high percentage of recycled aggregate, eg thermalite
- packing skips well - a skip can contain up to 70 per cent air because of gaps between waste materials
- filling the perps (ends to bricks) to make walls more thermally efficient
- minimising the amount of water you use
You must help to ensure that your waste is properly dealt with - see duty of care for business waste.
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