Reducing Construction Waste: 6 Tips for an Eco-Responsible Job Site

In Quebec, the construction sector generates thousands of tonnes of construction waste every year. Yet, it is possible to significantly reduce this environmental impact by adopting simple and effective practices. An eco-responsible job site not only helps reduce waste, but also improves cost control, logistics, and overall project efficiency.

At Groupe Bellemare, we support construction professionals and self-builders in implementing practical solutions to reduce construction waste — from material selection to the management and recovery of residual materials.

Here are 6 simple tips to make your job site more sustainable.

1.  Plan accurately to avoid waste

A large portion of material loss comes from poor planning. By accurately assessing your needs and ordering the exact quantities required, you can significantly reduce unnecessary surplus. Our team can help you calculate the right amount of materials and select the products best suited to your project.

💡 Use our concrete calculator to better estimate your needs and avoid material losses.

2.   Choose local materials

Opting for locally produced or sourced materials — such as our concrete, aggregates, and sand — helps reduce transportation distances, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and support the regional economy.

Local materials are also better adapted to Quebec’s climate conditions, which enhances their durability on job sites.

3.   Centralize your suppliers

Working with a single partner capable of offering multiple services — new or recycled materials, specialized equipment rental, and container management — greatly simplifies job site logistics.

Fewer suppliers mean fewer trips, lower emissions, reduced waste, and better coordination of operations.

4.   Install containers adapted for sorting

Source separation is essential to reducing construction waste. Thanks to our dedicated container rental service (wood, concrete, gypsum, metals, etc.), residual materials can be sorted directly on site.  They are then transported to our sorting center to be responsibly recovered.

5.   Encourage recovery and reuse

Formwork wood, bricks, concrete blocks, aggregates… Many materials can be recovered and reused, either on the same job site or on other projects.

By directing these materials to a specialized sorting center, they can be processed and recovered rather than sent to landfill, contributing to a circular economy.

6.   Rent equipment instead of buying

Renting equipment — such as a stone slinger truck or a concrete mixer — provides access to a high-performance fleet without long-term investment.

This approach reduces maintenance and transportation costs while avoiding underutilized machinery. You benefit from equipment tailored to your needs, delivered according to your schedule.

Building cleaner is possible

Adopting more eco-responsible practices on a job site doesn’t have to be complicated. On the contrary, reducing construction waste is often an opportunity to improve efficiency, profitability, and overall project management.

By working with a partner like Groupe Bellemare, you gain access to concrete solutions and a turnkey service for supply, logistics, sorting, and material recovery — helping create job sites that are cleaner, more efficient, and more sustainable.