JLL achieves over 98% waste recycling on Defence demolition project

CANBERRA, 2 April 2024 – JLL has collaborated with contractor Serendia Pty Ltd on a Defence demolition project to successfully divert 98.16% of construction waste from landfill. The project, completed across February and March this year, involved the demolishment of a three-storey brick building at HMAS Harman with all recycled project waste sent to local facility, ACT Recycling.

This sustainability milestone exceeds the minimum target of 80% which is a requirement for the Green Star credit of ‘Responsible Construction Practices’. This was achieved by utilising the JLL Construction Waste Tracker with our contractor collecting weekly data and submitting monthly reports, providing a breakdown of the waste diverted from landfill. We were able to capture the individual volume of each material sent to ACT Recycling, with the total featuring over 2406 tonnes of brick and 947 tonnes of concrete.

The Directorate of Estate Works Program Office (DEWPO) and Directorate of Living Services (DLS) visited the demolition site during the project to discuss the waste recycling target and gain an understanding of the practices put in place to achieve it. JLL, our contractor and DLS then toured ACT Recycling to understand how they receive the waste and the plant processes that turn the concrete and brick rubble into road-base aggregate, crushed concrete and crusher dust.

“Over the past 12 months, we have been engaged in ongoing conversations regarding how we can improve waste diversion within the Estate Works Program,” said Kristine Dennis, ACT Defence State Lead at JLL. “This project is the culmination of these conversations, and hosting DLS and DEWPO onsite provided firsthand exposure to the unique challenges we face when it comes to waste management at our facilities, and how we’re overcoming them.”

The brick and concrete recycled from this project has been crushed and will be re-used as road base materials, while the metal will be recycled into new metal products. By implementing these practices, we’re demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability, setting a new standard for diverting waste from landfill in future construction projects.