[Bin and gone]

Waste Management Plan and Strategy

We know waste. Waste isn’t just a by-product of development — it’s a design challenge, a compliance requirement, and increasingly, an opportunity to deliver value.

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Trusted by companies
big and small

[here's how we can help you]

At Makao, we help you cut through the complexity of regulations, reporting, and sustainability frameworks. So your project can manage waste efficiently, meet your aspirational targets or council expectations, and demonstrate real environmental outcomes.

Waste Management Plans

Get detailed operational waste management plans tailored to local council and planning permit requirements. These plans cover bin storage, collection logistics, vehicle access, and resource recovery targets so your development is approved without delay.

+ Waste generation rates
+ Collection frequency and logistics
+ Bin planning and sizing
+ Vehicle access and manoeuvring
+ Resource recovery and recycling targets
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‍Need to meet regulations without overdesigning?

‍Ask us how →

Operational Waste Strategy

Your operational strategy ensures waste systems are practical for tenants and building managers, making day-to-day use easy and effective.
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+ Building User Guide
+ Bin room layouts and flexibility
+ Integration with building operations
+ Collection pathways
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‍Planning for low waste building or precinct?

We can help →

Construciton and Demolition Waste Management

Waste on site doesn’t have to mean wasted time or money. With the right audits, systems, and contractor buy-in, you can keep costs down and recycling rates up.

+ Conducting waste audits and reporting
+ Embedding source separaiont strategies
+ Training and engaging contractors
+ Reducing costs through smarter sorting and recycling
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Want to reduce risk of defects, non-compliance, and costly rework?
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Talk to us about your enclosure →

Circular Economy and Innovation

For projects that want to go beyond compliance. Not all waste needs to be wasted. By looking for reuse and recovery opportunities early, your project can close the loop and create value instead of landfill.
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+ Identify material reuse opportunities
+ Design on-site recovery systems
+ Source and build partnerships with recycling providers
+ Trial innovative diversion initiatives
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Want your design to work harder—without compromising intent?

Bring us in early →

Green Buidling Certification Support

Whether you’re targeting Green Star, LEED, or other certifications, we provide the modelling, documentation, and strategy to secure credits—without overengineering the solution.
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+ Green Star (Construction and Demolition Waste credits)
+ LEED Materials and Resources credits
+ WELL and Fitwel technical input
+ BESS input and local council-aligned ESD reporting
+ NABERS Waste modelling and guidance
+ Cross-framework coordination and documentation

Pursuing certification across multiple frameworks?

We’ll help you navigate it →

Discuss your project with us

[better buildings]

Life is too short for low-performance buildings.

Our cities and urban centres are changing fast—in both size and speed. And achieving sustainable solutions in our urban environment is a growing challenge. Parallel to this, we're increasingly aware of our impact on our surroundings and scarcity of resources.
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To help you help you navigate the complexity of creating sustainable developments, Makao provides a wide range of services. We want to make this simple as you focus on shaping our built environment.

Operational
waste

construction
waste

WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN

Early design support

circular
economy

collection
logistics

[markets we work in]

Sustainability challenges look different depending on where you sit. Designing a new building, delivering a city precinct, or guiding an organisation-wide strategy. We bring technical depth and practical solutions that meet your project's unique needs.

See the sectors we help

[Got questions?]

Frequently Asked Questions

We know every project and organisation is different, so you might be wondering how Makao fits with your goals. If you don’t see your question here, we’d love to hear from you directly.

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What industries does Makao specialise in?

We partner with you across the built environment — education, industrial, residential, retail (large and small format retail), community and religious buildings, precincts, and infrastructure.

If you’re an organisation looking to strengthen your sustainability strategy at a company or portfolio level, we can support you there too.

Can you help us meet regulatory or sustainability targets?

Yes. We help you navigate complex standards like building codes, NatHERS, LEED, Green Star, and NABERS. And we don’t stop at compliance — we work with you to set and deliver on ambitious goals such as energy efficiency, electrification, and net zero.

How is your approach different from traditional consulting firms?

We bring rigorous technical modelling together with a practical, collaborative style. Instead of just handing you a report, we involve you in the process so sustainability becomes part of how your project is designed, approved, and delivered. And because we value trust, we’re always happy to connect you with existing clients who can share their experience of working with us.

Do you offer technical implementation or just strategy?

Both. We can help you in the early stages with concept design and policy development, and we also get hands-on with detailed energy modelling, technical reports, and approvals.

Put simply, we meet you where you are — whether you need consulting only, consulting plus strategy, or full strategy and implementation (including procurement).

Are your solutions scalable?

Absolutely. Whether you’re delivering one high-performance building or rolling out a multi-city program, our methods scale with you. We adapt to your context while still aligning with leading global benchmarks.

How do we start working with Makao?

It usually begins with a discovery email or call where we get to know you and your goals. We’ll clarify your sustainability objectives and outline the pathways we can support you with. From there, we provide you with a tailored scope and next steps.

We are Makao Group Pty Ltd, an Australian-registered firm specialising in ESD engineering, sustainability, and energy performance modelling. The content on this site is shared to give you useful insights and information, but it shouldn’t be taken as tailored professional advice. Every project is unique, so always seek specific guidance before making decisions. We work hard to keep our information accurate and up to date, but we can’t guarantee that everything will be perfect or suitable for every situation. Makao isn’t responsible for any loss or outcomes that come from relying solely on what’s here.