Deal with construction waste

The construction industry produces around 120 million tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation waste per year. It is estimated that 13 per cent of this is new, unused material. Currently only half of the waste is being recycled or reclaimed.

The DEFRA Waste Strategy sets a target for halving the amount that goes to landfill by 2012. The UK’s Strategy for Sustainable Construction provides greater impetus and direction – setting a target for a 50 per cent reduction of construction, demolition and excavation waste to landfill by 2012 compared to 2008. The Strategy envisages “an industry which will reduce, and ultimately eliminate waste in construction through improved design, procurement, and greater re-use and recycling of resources.”

The government’s national action plan,Procuring the future, aims to stimulate innovation and deliver sustainable procurement by complementing and building on existing activity. The action plan recognises public sector construction and public sector waste management as key priorities, respectively representing £22.3 billion and £4.5 billion of annual spend. The action plan cites the example of the Newport southern distributor road improvement, where the use of recycled material resulted in direct cost savings in construction costs (£1 million), carbon emissions (£100,000), avoiding landfill costs (£950,000).

The government’s sustainable procurement task force says attention should be focused on areas where a significant increase in future spend is expected.  Examples include the Buildings Schools for the Future programme and construction of the London 2012 Olympic Park.