COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Waste Management Practices in Internal & External Tiling course. This program has been designed to equip you with the knowledge, strategies, and site-based techniques required to plan, implement, and monitor effective waste management practices across all tiling operations—indoors and out.

Sustainable waste practices are essential in today’s construction industry. This course begins by exploring the environmental and financial implications of poor waste control in tiling work, including the overuse of materials, landfill burden, and damage to professional reputation. It also highlights your legal obligations under Australian environmental legislation and construction waste compliance standards.

Effective waste management starts with understanding what types of waste your project will generate. This section identifies the most common waste materials in tiling—such as broken tiles, grout residue, empty adhesive bags, and packaging—as well as hazardous waste like waterproofing compounds and solvent-based sealants. It also explains how to differentiate between recyclable, reusable, and landfill-bound materials to support correct disposal.

Tiling projects must comply with multiple waste-related codes and regulations. This section introduces key requirements from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), local council waste policies, and the National Construction Code (NCC). It also explains how client and project-specific sustainability goals can influence waste planning and compliance documentation.

Proper planning can prevent unnecessary waste before tiling even begins. This section explores how to factor waste minimisation into your job setup by accurately estimating material needs, reducing over-ordering, and planning layout areas for sorting, recycling, and chemical storage. Efficient setup ensures a cleaner, safer site and reduces end-of-project waste costs.

A site waste assessment helps predict and manage waste streams. This section outlines how to map material flow across tiling activities, pinpoint where waste is generated, and assess what infrastructure is already in place for segregation. You’ll also learn how to identify key areas to improve on-site waste control throughout the project.

Segregation is a critical step in improving recovery and recycling rates. This section focuses on setting up clearly labelled bins or skips for specific waste types such as tiles, cardboard, and chemical containers. It covers the use of colour-coded signage, safe bin access points, and positioning of waste stations for maximum team compliance.

Material delivery processes influence how much waste ends up onsite. This section explains how to schedule just-in-time deliveries, inspect product quality on arrival, and reject damaged or non-compliant goods. You’ll also learn how to engage suppliers around packaging reduction and promote the use of recyclable or reusable containers.

Tile handling is a common source of avoidable waste. This section outlines best practices for tile storage—using pallets, racking, or padded surfaces to avoid breakage. It also explains how to minimise damage during transport, reduce unnecessary handling, and maintain dry, stable storage conditions for long-term material preservation.

Adhesive and grout waste is often due to poor preparation. This section details how to calculate quantities based on coverage, mix only what is needed, and apply products correctly to avoid waste. You’ll also learn how to train teams in product-specific techniques and ensure prompt cleaning of tools to prevent material hardening.

Off-cuts and surplus tiles can often be reused. This section explores how to store usable remnants for future use, record them in a reuse register, and offer leftover materials to other jobs or clients. The aim is to reduce landfill volume and retain value from surplus inventory.

Chemical waste must be handled with extreme care. This section covers how to dispose of adhesives, sealants, and waterproofing products safely—following manufacturer instructions and Safety Data Sheets (SDS). You will also learn to use compliant containers and implement controls to prevent spills or environmental contamination.

Communication is key to team compliance. This section outlines how to include waste procedures in toolbox talks, use posters and visual guides near waste zones, and assign clear responsibilities for waste monitoring. It promotes a shared site culture of accountability and care.

Daily monitoring helps keep waste targets on track. This section explains how to track volumes and types of waste as they occur, conduct spot checks of segregation practices, and adapt procedures in response to poor performance or high waste generation in specific areas.

Waste contractors play a critical role in the success of your strategy. This section explores how to engage licensed providers, schedule timely pickups, and ensure safe handling and disposal of general and hazardous materials. You’ll also learn how to request recycling data and disposal certificates for reporting and audits.

Keeping records strengthens compliance and supports sustainability reporting. This section explains how to maintain manifests, weighbridge dockets, disposal receipts, and waste tracking logs. All documentation should be linked to project completion files and client reporting requirements.

Project close-out is an opportunity to evaluate your waste management performance. This section outlines how to review whether your goals were met, conduct team debriefings, and record what worked well. You’ll also learn how to benchmark performance across multiple projects to identify long-term trends and areas for refinement.

Improvement requires iteration and innovation. This section focuses on trialling low-waste materials, updating team training, improving site signage, and encouraging teams to suggest new ideas. Feedback loops help refine your approach and demonstrate environmental leadership to clients and stakeholders.

Waste efficiency must become part of your site’s values. This section promotes the embedding of waste management into tiling culture by rewarding high-performing teams, maintaining visual standards onsite, and aligning with broader sustainability initiatives such as Green Star, NABERS, or ISO 14001.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the planning tools, practical techniques, and compliance knowledge to manage waste responsibly and sustainably across both internal and external tiling projects—reducing environmental impact, meeting client expectations, and supporting long-term business success.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Waste Management in Tiling Projects

• Importance of sustainable practices in the tiling industry
• Environmental and financial impacts of poor waste control
• Legal obligations under waste and environmental regulations

2. Identifying Waste Types in Internal and External Tiling

• Common waste: off-cuts, adhesive residue, packaging, grout
• Hazardous waste: solvents, sealants, and waterproofing chemicals
• Differentiating between recyclable, reusable, and landfill waste

3. Understanding Construction Waste Regulations and Standards

• EPA and local council waste disposal requirements
• Relevant clauses from the National Construction Code (NCC)
• Client and project-specific sustainability targets

4. Planning Waste Management Before Tiling Begins

• Incorporating waste reduction into job planning
• Estimating material usage to minimise over-ordering
• Allocating space for waste sorting and storage areas

5. Conducting Site Waste Assessments

• Identifying potential waste streams for each tiling activity
• Mapping material flow and areas where waste is generated
• Evaluating existing site waste management infrastructure

6. Setting Up Onsite Waste Segregation Systems

• Providing labelled bins/skips for different waste types
• Using colour-coded signage for tiles, cardboard, and chemicals
• Ensuring access to waste zones is clear and safe

7. Managing Material Deliveries to Minimise Waste

• Coordinating just-in-time delivery to reduce overstocking
• Inspecting materials on arrival for damage or contamination
• Avoiding excessive packaging or single-use containers

8. Handling and Storing Tiles to Reduce Breakage

• Using pallets, racks, or padded surfaces for storage
• Keeping tiles in dry, flat, and stable conditions
• Limiting unnecessary handling and movement

9. Reducing Adhesive and Grout Waste

• Mixing only what is required based on surface coverage
• Training workers on correct mixing ratios and application techniques
• Cleaning tools promptly to avoid product hardening

10. Managing Off-Cuts and Leftover Tiles

• Setting aside full tiles and larger off-cuts for reuse
• Offering excess materials to other projects or clients
• Creating a register of reusable inventory for future jobs

11. Disposing of Chemical Waste Safely

• Following manufacturer and SDS guidelines for disposal
• Using appropriate containers for hazardous material collection
• Preventing runoff or contamination of soil and drains

12. Communicating Waste Procedures to Tiling Teams

• Including waste protocols in toolbox talks and inductions
• Displaying visual guides near bins and workstations
• Assigning responsibility for monitoring waste compliance

13. Monitoring Daily Waste Generation

• Tracking types and volumes of waste produced
• Conducting visual inspections of waste handling areas
• Adjusting strategies in response to excessive or misplaced waste

14. Engaging Waste Removal Contractors

• Selecting licensed and ethical waste transporters
• Scheduling pickups to align with project timelines
• Requesting recycling and disposal certificates where applicable

15. Maintaining Records of Waste Disposal and Recycling

• Keeping receipts, manifests, and tracking logs
• Documenting efforts for environmental reporting or audits
• Including waste records in the project close-out file

16. Reviewing Waste Performance at Project Completion

• Assessing whether reduction targets were met
• Conducting team debriefs to identify successes and gaps
• Comparing data across projects for benchmarking

17. Promoting Continuous Improvement in Waste Management

• Trialling new materials with reduced waste footprints
• Updating training and signage based on feedback
• Encouraging innovation and reporting of waste reduction ideas

18. Embedding Waste Management into Tiling Culture

• Making waste efficiency part of site values and behaviour
• Recognising teams that meet or exceed waste targets
• Aligning waste practices with broader sustainability goals

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.