Construction and demolition projects can produce a wide variety of waste materials. This waste encompasses not only trash and useless materials, but also

• excavated material such as rock and soil
• waste asphalt, bricks, concrete, plasterboard, timber and vegetation
• asbestos and contaminated soil

The building sector is one of the largest contributors of waste to Australia's landfill. However, many materials used by the building sector are recyclable, including

• Cardboard
• Metal (both non-ferrous and ferrous)
• Plastic
• Paper
• Concrete
• Wood (provided it isn’t painted or stained)
• Drywall
• Gravel
• Window glass
• Asphalt roofing
• Carpets

According to the Waste and Recycling in Australia 2011 report, approximately 45% of the total waste stream was disposed to landfill, while 55% was recovered and recycled in 2008-2009.

From the latest data provided by the National Waste Report 2020, the construction and demolition sector's waste stream is the largest source of managed waste in Australia and 76% of it is recycled. 

Despite the growing volume of garbage, the industry is rapidly realising that resources can be put to better use rather than languishing in landfills for forever. Because it packs down more effectively and provides stronger surfaces than pure virgin aggregate, recycled concrete aggregate is ideal for use as a road base and hardstand area. Masonry materials accounted for 48% of all recovered garbage sent for recycling in Australia in 2018-2019, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, making it the largest recovered waste type in the country.

Waste categories with the highest recovery rate were

• Masonry materials: 81%, driven entirely by recycling
• Metals: 76%, driven by exports and recycling
• Paper and cardboard: 65%, driven mostly by recycling