• November 10, 2025
• By JEP Team

The construction and demolition (C&D) waste sector plays a critical role in Australia’s transition towards a circular economy. As the industry evolves, complying with the Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA) Construction and Demolition Waste Reporting Criteria Guidelines has become a powerful way for waste contractors and recycling facilities to demonstrate best-practice sustainability to developers. It ensures that materials are handled responsibly and that all reporting is accurate and consistent. It also permits a developer to claim credits towards the Green Star Building Rating.

For waste contractors and recycling facilities, becoming verified as compliant with the GBCA guidelines can open the door to new contracts and long-term partnerships. In recent years, verification has become essential, as many developers now only engage verified waste contractors and recyclers to meet project compliance and sustainability expectations. Without verification, many opportunities may be lost.

To acquire your verification, your business must be audited by an experienced professional that meets the strict auditor qualifications set by the GBCA. The auditor will require detailed documentation from your business to prepare an accurate and comprehensive report. For those operating in the C&D waste sector, there are strict waste tracking and reporting criteria that must be met. These criteria and the subsequent documentation consist of two audits, waste contractors and waste processors, which includes an assessment of the following:

• Comparison of customers’ waste reports with waste contractor’s dockets
• Comparison of waste contractors’ disposal dockets with waste processing facility records
• Review of all environmental licences or development approvals
• Confirmation of clear separation of waste processing facility from landfill
• Confirmation of a clear tracking system to separate residual waste from recyclables (weighbridge)
• Confirmation of a certified weighbridge and operational procedures
• Assessment of the source and fate of inbound and outbound waste
• Assessment of the rates of waste diversion and residual waste committed to landfill (facility-wide audit)
• Review of public reporting and disclosure of waste diversion and residual waste committed to landfill

If the auditor finds all is compliant with the guidelines, they will issue you with a compliance verification certificate, officially making your business verified under the GBCA’s guidelines. 

As a qualified auditor, we at JEP Environment & Planning aim to make achieving verification under the GBCA guidelines as simple and as straightforward as possible for your business. Once we receive the required evidence from your business, we collate it into a clear report outlining why your business is compliant or how you can become compliant. By ensuring all reporting meets the highest standards, we set your business up for success, credibility, and recognition as a verified leader in sustainable construction and demolition waste management.

If you need support becoming Green Star verified, our team of experienced environmental and industrial planners are here to help. Reach us at (02) 8056 1849 or email us at admin@jacksonenvironment.com.au. More info at https://www.jacksonenvironment.com.au.