Circular Construction: How the Hire Model Supports Waste Reduction

The construction and demolition (C&D) industry is our largest single source of waste. According to the Green Building Council’s 2025 report, Australia’s Wasted Opportunity, almost 30 million tonnes of waste are generated each year. That equates to 141 kilograms for every square metre built, costing about $384 per m². The Ministry for the Environment New Zealand’s 2025 report found similar results, with around 29 million tonnes of waste sent to disposal facilities in 2023. That scale means even small changes in how projects source and use equipment can make a significant difference.

Hiring equipment for selected tasks is a practical step toward circular construction. It keeps tools and equipment in use for longer, avoids unnecessary duplication across projects, and promotes ongoing maintenance and repair rather than early disposal.

The opportunity: duplicated assets and short equipment life

On many projects, plant and tools are purchased for a short window and then sit idle. Equipment is often shifted between sites without consistent inspection, or replaced prematurely because servicing and storage are difficult to manage amid tight schedules. When equipment isn’t well maintained, isn’t suited to the task, or isn’t readily available at the work front, inefficiencies quickly emerge. This can lead to extra deliveries, rework, damaged materials, and equipment reaching end-of-life sooner than it should.

A circular approach focuses on keeping equipment in use and avoiding wasted time and resources. The hire model supports this through shared use across projects, regular inspections and servicing, and resale into the second-hand market to extend equipment life even further.

How hire supports circular construction on real projects

1. Higher use and fewer duplicate purchases

   Hiring increases the use of equipment across multiple projects. Rather than multiple contractors buying the same specialist gear “just in case”, projects can access the right equipment when it is required. This reduces the amount of equipment manufactured, transported, stored, and eventually disposed of.

2. Maintenance as part of the lifecycle

   A circular system relies on keeping equipment ready for use. In a hire model, regular cleaning and maintenance improve reliability and prevent avoidable failures. The same approach applies to emergency services equipment, where servicing is kept up to date to ensure readiness for intensive but infrequent use.

3. Better planning reduces damage and rework

   Circular construction is not only about recycling; it is about preventing waste through smarter planning. By selecting the right tool, attachment, and access solution early, projects can work more efficiently. Fewer aborted attempts, less damage, and minimal temporary fixes help reduce waste overall.

4. End-of-life pathways: reuse, repurpose, recycle

   Circularity works best when end-of-life is planned for each piece of equipment. In our programs, tools have a defined hire life, after which they move into reuse, repurpose, or recycling pathways — in that order — instead of going to landfill. For example, our collaboration with Hilti assesses end-of-hire equipment for reusable spare parts or redirects it to community or training organisations for lighter-duty use.

Practical actions project teams can take (without changing the whole project)

If you are trying to reduce waste and improve circular outcomes on site, these are straightforward steps that can be readily integrated into most worksites and often add efficiencies:

• Set hire-first rules for specialist or low-use items.
• Plan access and lifting early to avoid last-minute substitutions that can lead to rework or material damage.
• Schedule regular equipment checks during pre-starts or periodic inspections to reduce the risk of breakdowns.
• Track equipment use by construction stage to identify opportunities for shared resources and reduced equipment costs.

Circular construction for efficiency and sustainability

Circular construction delivers real efficiencies and stronger sustainability outcomes across projects. With C&D waste still a significant part of Australia and New Zealand’s waste stream, hiring equipment — which extends lifecycles, supports shared use, and ensures ongoing maintenance — provides a practical way to achieve these results, reduce costs, and differentiate operations.