Recycling construction materials

What you must do

If your business recycles materials, both on or off your site, you must meet certain regulations to ensure you recycle safely and legally.

Duty of care - your waste responsibilities

Reduce, reuse and recycle your business waste

Materials for recycling, either on your premises or elsewhere, are likely to be waste and will be subject to the requirements of the waste management and the duty of care regimes.

Materials for recycling include:

• broken out concrete
• scrap metal
• copper cable
• tyres
• plasterboard
• timber
• paper.

Your waste haulage contractor will be able to give you disposal options in your area.

Alternatively, to find contractors in your area who can dispose of your waste, use the NetRegs waste directory.

Find your nearest waste site

The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has produced detailed guidance for the construction sector. This is free to download.

CECA: Waste classification and permitting in construction

Recycled aggregates

If you recover aggregates from construction, demolition and excavation waste and sell them as products (recycled aggregates), rather than waste, you must comply with the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulation.

For further information on REACH and recycled aggregates visit the WRAP website.

WRAP: REACH - Obligations for producers of recycled aggregates

Zero Waste Scotland: maximising re-use on construction sites

Northern Ireland

The NIEA in association with the EA and WRAP have revised the end of waste Quality Protocol (October 2013) for the production of aggregates from inert waste. It reflects the latest approved industry standards, including factory production control, and incorporates other improvements and clarifications to make it easier for producers and users to ensure full compliance with the end of waste criteria.

WRAP: Aggregates from inert waste

NIEA: Construction and Demolition Waste and Recycled Concrete 

Read about More waste treatment processes on NetRegs