Minimising plasterboard construction waste

What practical steps can you take on-site to minimise plasterboard construction waste?

1. Waste ownership and accountability

If minimising waste is a priority on a project, it’s worth clearly defining:

• Who monitors and implements the waste minimisation initiatives?

• Do clear waste minimisation targets exist?

• Are waste streams regularly reported using data from the waste collection service provider?

• Are waste minimisation targets included in the project contracts and subcontractor agreements to help ensure they remain a priority on the project?

2. Room take-off and ordering processes

The person responsible for installing the plasterboard should also be the one who is paid to do the site measure and specify the plasterboard sheet lengths and volumes required. An experienced installer uses the most efficient sheet sizes to reduce offcut wastage while guiding other potential installation considerations such as the most efficient delivery method.

3. Horizontal plasterboard installation

Specify on the design plans for the plasterboard to be installed horizontally on walls where possible. This provides a greater opportunity for sheet lengths to be ordered, which work more closely with the total room.

One option worth considering is to move the sheet joint away from corner openings and use a floating joint such as shown here.

Alternatively, consider including a control joint at the edge of the opening for applications prone to high degrees of movement, such as transport homes.

5. Plasterboard delivery timing

For compact sites, it may be worthwhile considering an early delivery of the plasterboard into an area that’s difficult to access once the building is closed. It may also be best to use a Hiab lift delivery of plasterboard to reach those hard to get to places before installing a window and reduce the need, later on, to manoeuvre long sheet lengths in tight spaces.

6. Managing waste streams on-site

Engage with the main contractor on-site to understand their approach to managing waste streams. One option could be separating the main waste streams into common groups, such as plasterboard and treated and untreated timber, to allow waste to be more easily collected and recycled by waste providers.

7. Plasterboard wastage rates

Horizontal fixing can also reduce the number of sheet joins in a room, reducing the amount of stopping required.

4. Window and door openings

Another potential source of plasterboard waste is where full plasterboard sheets are used around door and window openings to reduce the risk of cracking in the corners.

It’s also worthwhile considering the plasterboard wastage rate factored into the overall project cost. A typical plasterboard wastage rate is around 10%; however, live site trials indicate this figure could be closer to 15%, meaning additional unaccounted-for margin lost for the installer1

For more information on GIB® plasterboard sustainability visit www.gib.co.nz/sustainability