Timber – it’s not photocopier paper!
16 Sep 2024, Community & Sponsorship, News
Auckland Council’s Mark Roberts investigates timber waste on building sites and provides some useful tips on how to keep it to a minimum
A tongue-in-cheek suggestion was made to me a while ago that builders treat timber like office workers treat photocopier paper. However, in 2019, quantitative research conducted for Auckland Council revealed a strong desire within the building sector to reduce timber waste. Given that timber typically makes up about a quarter of the waste by weight from a typical house build – even with the use of pre-nailed frames – this isn’t surprising.
How to reduce timber waste
There are several key areas where timber waste can be minimised. While no one wants to be the quantity surveyor who underestimates timber needs, over-ordering is a significant contributor to waste.
Keeping a close eye on timber orders helps foster a culture of making the most of every piece.
Proper storage and handling of timber is also crucial. Keeping timber packets dry and protected from the elements helps ensure they are fully utilised. A tarp or timber cover is usually sufficient to protect timber stored outdoors.
A surprising amount of timber is used for bracing frames, with suppliers often delivering a packet of timber along with the set of frames. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for perfectly good bracing timber to be cut to the length of a skip and discarded. Formwork is also another application where timber is often discarded after a single use.
Fortunately, alternatives such as reusable bracing are now available, significantly reducing the need for timber in this context. Additionally, reusable bracing is reportedly easier to install and remove.
Don’t bin it, reuse it
Arm’s length (or longer) timber pieces can be reused if they’re kept out of skips and stored properly. These pieces can often be reused on the same site, a different site, or donated to local facilities or organisations. Even shorter pieces of timber, often considered waste, can be useful to many people.
More alternatives to skips are emerging for usable timber.
Many communities have local recycling centres that will accept reusable lengths of timber for free. It’s simply a matter of keeping this material out of your skip and dropping it off.
BRANZ recently published an interactive map to help builders and tradespeople find locations to drop off reusable materials. Scan the QR code below to access the map.
With a bit of forethought and planning, reducing timber waste can be an easy and effective way to decrease site waste volume and cost, while elevating the value of this important resource.
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