Burbank builds 99% waste-free home

Burbank Homes is building what is expected to be the first zero-waste home in Victoria. The project is part of a feasibility study funded through the Victorian Government’s Beyond Waste Fund, in conjunction with partners RMIT University and the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

Left to right: Melton City Council Mayor Cr Bob Turner; RMIT University Dr Enda Crossin; Burbank Health, Safety & Environment Manager Frank Perconte; Burbank Managing Director Jarrod Sanfilippo; Sustainability Victoria CEO Stan Krpan; HIA Planning Services Adviser Emily Waters; HIA Executive Director - Victoria Gil King; and Burbank Group Director Eddie Sanfilippo.

Burbank was able to slash housing construction waste sent to landfill by an unprecedented 99%, surpassing the original ‘Target Zero Waste to Landfill’ reduction target of 80%. The company’s managing director, Jarrod Sanfilippo, said these results were testament to careful planning by Burbank; the suppliers who got on board with the study; and project partner RMIT University, who assisted with waste audit and measurement.

“We worked closely with RMIT’s Centre for Design to investigate and implement waste-control methods, from simple tactics such as re-use of on-site waste materials to research into less wasteful construction materials and practical approaches such as minimising off-cuts - each with great success,” Sanfilippo said.

“Among our key achievements on the Tierra 2300 home at Lend Lease’s Atherstone Estate were no site cleans being required until the completion of the build and the site cut material being re-used on the development of local parkland.

“Our use of concrete bricks was a surprising success, with little to no discards, and our new practice of using half bricks in sills also contributed to a significant reduction in surplus waste.”

Sanfilippo admitted that there was some over-delivery of materials contributing to excess waste, as well as deliveries that fell outside the specified lean-quantity parameters. “Also,” he said, “our room on site was restricted due to external building works, which made separation of materials difficult at times and caused inefficient double handling of some materials.”

Despite this, Burbank still exceeded its original target. Sustainability Victoria CEO Stan Krpan noted the importance of waste reduction, stating, “The construction and demolition sector generates approximately 5 million tonnes of waste each year and, of this, 850,000 tonnes is sent to landfill. Residential housing construction sends an average of 5.8 tonnes of waste to landfill each year, which equates to around 40% of Victoria’s waste.

“Through lean construction methods and with a strategy on waste avoidance, Burbank has demonstrated the residential construction sector in Victoria can be environmentally competitive by reducing nearly five tonnes of waste on this study home,” he said.

The home is now open for viewing at 12 Ladbroke Street, Melton South, from noon-5 pm Monday to Friday and 11 am-5 pm on weekends