Although individual building material producers and building contractors are establishing waste minimisation schemes, the full benefit of these schemes will not be realised until the waste arisings from the construction process are independently examined and quantified. Also, the rising costs of raw materials and the cost of waste disposal due to the introduction and ramping up of landfill tax will increase interest in waste minimisation schemes. This Digest demonstrates the level of savings that can be achieved through the implementation of a properly designed and managed waste minimisation system. The results challenge the commonly held view that construction waste minimisation is cost inefficient by showing that an effective waste minimisation system on a construction site is an efficient and cost-effective way of operating. 8 pages.