Episode 4 - Alex Hartmann: Diversion of Strip Out Waste

In this episode of our podcast series, we meet Alex Hartmann, Partner at Baker & McKenzie, who presented at the recent Society of Construction Law Australia National Conference. The Conference brought together lawyers and construction industry professionals to discuss ‘Building Australia’s Future.’ Alex presented on what happens to office waste when offices are stripped out.  There are 25,000 tonnes of office waste generated in Sydney each year alone, and only 25% of this is recyclable material. Alex’s presentation looks at drivers of this issue, including the need in commercial office leases for space to be returned ready for next tenancy. Time pressures are the enemy of recycling. Alex notes that the energy ratings of buildings often only factor in design, and don’t look at reuse or recycling of construction waste. Alex introduces us to the Better Buildings Partnership, which aims to bring about best practice relating to sustainability in managing construction waste, including via the Waste Guidelines. Alex Hartmann is a Partner of the Sydney office of Baker & McKenzie and is regularly engaged in high-profile construction matters. He advises government and private sector clients on engineering contracts, construction projects and infrastructure-related legal issues. Alex's practice focuses on all facets of project delivery — from contract structuring, drafting and negotiation, to advice on contract administration and dispute resolution. For more information please head to www.scl.org.au or find us on Twitter @SCLAust This podcast is for reference purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. You should always obtain legal advice about your specific circumstances. The views expressed in these podcasts are the speakers' own. They should not be taken as recommendations of the Society of Construction Law Australia. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.