Taking the environmental initiative
30-11-2008 - Master Builder - August - September 2008
MBA members now have the opportunity to access an exciting construction website that will help with innovative solutions for managing building waste. MBA NSW Marketing and Communication Manager Steven Swan explains.
The Master Builders Association continually looks at what is happening in our industry and for ways to improve the business practices of its members. Earlier this year the MBA managed to secure free membership for all MBA members in a partner site - www.constructionconnect.com.au. This website has some exciting, innovative ways to help builders, landscapers, earthmovers and trades reduce the waste component of the building process. This has been achieved in a simple-to-use, time and cost-effective way.
How often have you seen a pallet of bricks slowly disappear under the rubbish pile and then be dumped? Forty-two per cent of waste in Australia is produced by construction and demolition activity. Renovation and refurbishment of existing commercial building stock is a growing area of total construction activity and a significant generator of waste sent to landfill, yet the alternatives to dumping "good" materials is often too time-consuming, and the labour and transport costs often outweigh the advantages. Someone will want it. The solution to your problem could be two streets away but how would you know?
"The solution could be two streets away but how would you know?"
When a problem exists in an industry it's often not too long before someone becomes so frustrated they look for a better way and solutions start to take shape. Construction Connect is such an example. Dave Smith, an earthmover working with builders, found it hard to dump good materials, but the alternative of storing those materials was too expensive and just caused more headaches. Here was a common scenario; one builder called him looking for fill for under a new slab, just after he had paid money to remove the same type of fill two days earlier. Dave realized the industry was a group of small to medium businesses that had a limited contact base. When a need arose, there were only so many calls a builder could make before the alternative of dumping the material became more cost/time effective. The idea was born. Dave brought on board Kevin Leighton, who passed the IT knowledge and ran web-based businesses, to bring the idea through to reality. Thus, we now have Construction Connect Australia.
Construction Connect Australia is a web-based business that targets this area of building specifically, and has created a network of trades and home renovators to help find a user for your excess and second-hand materials. With one phone call, your ad will be viewed by thousands of tradespeople and home renovators.
"It is short-term thinking that allows good clean soil to fill our landfill tips"
With its earthmover members, soil is also moved through the website using "fill ads" that are sent by SMS to all earthmover members. Everyday there are trucks on our roads carting fill - clay, topsoil, sandstone, etc. While soil is on the truck, in transit, it is free! It is only short-term thinking that allows good clean soil to fill our landfill tips. These same earthmovers can be SMS'd if you want fill removed. You can have them compete for your business; if an earthmover has a site needing your type of soil, he will give you the best price and promote service.
"While soil is on the truck, in transit, it is free!"
With ever-increasing tip fees and the growing concern in waste reduction, it makes perfect sense to trade materials amongst each other rather than send them to the tip.
To use the Construction Connect service, go to the MBA website homepage www.mbansw.asn.au and:
- Click on the Construction Connect banner
- Enter MBA login details
- A Construction Connect window will open where you can set up your free account.
Once your account is set up you'll have full access to the Construction Connect website and the ability to use all its features for free.
Over the next few months you will receive updates on the site and its features through our publications and email. If you use the site, let us know how it worked for you.
Master Builder - August - September 2008