The need to reduce waste at all stages in the construction process is a key part of sustainability. The Government's report 'Rethinking Construction' emphasises the need to ensure waste is considered at the design stage of the development and throughout the building's life.
This means thinking about the materials and processes used in construction and how the building is designed.
| The Government has set a minimum statutory performance standard of recycling and composting 10% of municipal waste by 2003/4 and 18% by 2005/6.
Some regional authorities have had higher targets imposed. The region is aiming to recover value from 40% of municipal waste by 2005. | |
Design Considerations
From inception of the project think about waste and design to avoid it. For example, prefabrication can reduce waste on site. Careful specification and ordering of materials will avoid excessive waste. Consider the type of development and design accordingly:
Residential
- Provide adequate space for storing recycling bins, especially where separate bins or containers are proposed for storing waste and / or recyclables before collection.
- Provide adequate space within developments for composting facilities, to allow for composting on site or for future collection by the waste collection authority. In some instances composters are available from the local authority at discounted rates. In this region there is a tradition of allotments where organic waste can be used for composting. New development could build on this tradition and provide space for this activity.
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- Participate in green and putrescible waste composting schemes where provided by the local council. This may be at the household or local civic amenity site.
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Design and Planning
- Ensure that clients are aware of the advantages of waste minimisation, and the fact that you want them to incorporate efficient materials usage into the project.
- Reduce the likelihood of wasteful design variations later in the project.
- Specify dimensions that relate to standard unit or material sizes.
- Be aware of the whole life cost of the materials in construction.
- Endeavour to use reclaimed and recycled materials in construction.
- Is there an opportunity to use 'waste' from another project on yours?
- Carry out design with possible off site prefabrication in mind.
Source: Demonstrating Waste Minimisation Benefits in Construction Volume 1: Good Practice guidance (Draft) - CIRIA
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OfficesProvide space for recycling bins. Separate bins for paper, glass, cans and electronic and technical waste that might be generated, i.e. office equipment, furniture, computers, telephones, toner cartridges, mobile phones that could be recycled. | |
Manufacturing Facilities
Assess the waste that will be generated by the process and plan accordingly, i.e., plan the development so that waste can be separated, stored and collected safely and easily. Hazardous waste needs special storage and access.
| Produce a waste map to assist with the design of the building to ensure that waste is planned for at the outset (Environmental Technology Best Practice Programme). | |
Retail
Provide adequate space for storage and collection of waste associated with the building (in particular think about recycling of packaging materials).
| Also provide recycling facilities for customers at a convenient point with adequate and safe access.
Recycling facilities should not become rubbish dumps, they should be well designed and regularly maintained. | |
Consultations
Talk to the local authority and Environment Agency about the design of the building - design in space for the end occupier to store sorted materials for recycling. Ensure adequate access is provided for the collection vehicles. Discuss procedures for storing waste, and collection and disposal details. Design decisions are one of the most important issues to consider as they will determine the project's waste stream characteristics, and the disposal methods will depend on whether the materials used can be separated, recovered and reused.
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Key Policy and Source of Advice
National policy advice is contained in the UK's Waste Strategy 2000. It provides an overview of the national vision for waste management and provides advice on the types of action that is needed to meet the targets set for the next five years. Further planning policy advice can be found in PPG10, which provides guidance for planning authorities to follow.
The Draft Regional Planning Guidance for the North East (RPG1 April 2001) contains a section on waste management. It is based on PPG10 and the draft waste strategy for England and Wales. It sets a number of national targets that the region aims to meet.
Further work will be undertaken to develop a regional waste strategy. The North East Region Technical Advisory Body on waste will advise the Regional Planning Body on options for the strategy which will be incorporated into an early review of RPG in 2002/03.
The Environment Agency can provide local policy details and practical advice on the latest waste management techniques and the life cycle and environmental impact of materials.
Envirowise is a joint initiative be the DTI and DTLR to promote waste minimisation and the use of cost-effective clean technology. They have a free telephone help line on legislation, grant assistance and technology, a web site and a large number of advice notes on waste management issues.
The Building Research Establishment also has a number of centres that specialise in waste management, recycling and the use of by-products. See www.bre.co.uk.
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Minimise Waste During Construction
This can be achieved by avoiding over specification of materials and services. A co-ordinated approach to design and construction within the supply chain will encourage designs which better meet clients' requirements and result in less waste.
The Waste Hierarchy
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Reduce
| Reduce overall consumption |
Waste Minimisation |
| Selective consumption (maximise the use of secondary material) |
| Elimination of waste production |
| Source reduction or minimisation |
Re-Use
|
Re-use of materials | |
Recover | Internal recycling of material |
Waste Management
|
| Material sent for recycling |
| Recovery of energy and heat |
| Disposal to landfill or incineration |
As shown in the waste hierarchy chart above, reduced consumption and waste minimisation are the most sustainable actions, followed by re-use and recovery, with disposal to landfill the least sustainable solution.
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The old door has been reused, it is easy to maintain and will last for many years. | The new PVC door does not fit the traditional character and is difficult to maintain and mend. |
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Over 90% of non-energy materials extracted in Great Britain are used to supply the construction industry with materials. Every year some 70 million tonnes of construction and demolition materials and soil end up as waste. Some 13 million tonnes of that comprises of materials delivered to sites and thrown away unused. Poor design and planning also result in wasted time and money and reduced profits.
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The Principles - 3 R's
The first question to ask is - can the amount of waste being produced be minimised or eliminated? Sustainable waste management is achievable if all involved in the construction process commit themselves to a waste strategy that is based on the waste hierarchy:
- Reduce - for example only order the amount of building materials needed - over 13 million tonnes of unused surplus materials are thrown away each year.
- Re-use - for example choose building materials that can be broken down in component parts at the end of their life and re-used.
- Recovery - including recycling, composting and waste-to-energy. For example use recycled materials in the new building, such as reclaimed concrete, instead of natural stone for surfacing. Use materials from demolition i.e. bricks and slates. Mixed waste can be used to generate heat and energy in industrial and housing schemes. Architectural salvage is a profitable business, many original features from buildings can be reused, i.e. traditional windows, panelled doors, cast iron gutters, downpipes and fireplaces.
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Construction Arrangements
- Ensure that there is sufficient budget for the efficient management of materials and waste.
- Regular waste auditing on site to monitor waste production and disposal.
- Thorough research of reclaimed and recycled materials that can be used in construction.
- Implement standards in handling and storage of materials to avoid damage and profligate use of them.
- Ensure that all levels of site staff have sufficient training to implement materials and waste management initiatives.
- Ensure that the segregation of waste materials for disposal is efficient and workable.
- Thorough project planning programme to minimise over-ordering of materials.
Source: Demonstrating Waste Minimisation Benefits in Construction, Volume 1: Good Practice Guidance (Draft) - CIRIA
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Commitment
It is essential to establish commitment from the whole construction team from the very start, as waste minimisation requires significant co-ordination of activities. Appoint an Environmental Champion at a senior level to develop the waste minimisation programme.
| To be effective in promoting and implementing waste minimisation initiatives, the Champion must have the support and commitment of senior management.
His / her role will increase staff awareness and provide an opportunity for feedback. He or she must set up and monitor performance targets. | |
Manage the Production, Storage and Disposal of Waste
In simple terms, controlled waste is material discarded from sites, households, businesses or establishments and non-controlled waste is currently waste from agriculture and mining.
The North East of England generates an estimated 6 million tonnes of controlled waste each year (1998-1999):
- 16% was used for energy from waste plants.
- Recycling of municipal waste throughout the region varies significantly, but accounts for only around 4% of waste generated.
- Disposal to landfill still accounts for over 78% of waste.
Waste minimisation is the systematic reduction of raw material, water and energy consumption and the reuse and recycling of waste on site.
| It is not as complicated as it seems - the implementation of waste programmes usually starts with a waste audit, followed by quite simple changes to process. In addition to environmental benefits, financial benefits can also be significant. | |
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Sources that can be used to identify process flow information:
- site and process maps
- flow diagrams of unit operations
- water and waste disposal bills
- effluent discharge consents
- authorisation to operate processes
- duty of care documentation
- cost of disposal
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The Benefits of Waste Minimisation
Waste minimisation is closely linked to sustainable development, providing benefits for the environment, the company and the economy.
Benefits to the development team or company include fostering a green image, and helping reduce costs associated with:
- waste transport and disposal - landfill tax will reach £15 / tonne by 2004 for mixed waste
- on-site waste treatment
- reduced need for virgin raw materials
- water and energy
- labour and time
- operating efficiency and hence production
Initial savings can be high, implementing low-cost or no-cost changes. Such changes might be straightforward 'housekeeping' initiatives where, if costs are incurred, there are frequently payback periods of less than 12 months.
The Environment Agency often works with the waste and planning authorities to develop the authorities' Waste Local Plans and Municipal Waste Management Strategies and will have knowledge of successful schemes in your area. It also provides legal and safety advice and registers, and monitors businesses which generate large volumes of waste. The Unitary and Shire County Waste Planning and Disposal Authorities can provide local policy details.
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Once the true cost of waste has been established, losses can easily be identified and then ranked to help identify those that will help meet the targets set by the Environmental Champion.
The Buildings Research Establishment (BRE) have established SMART waste - a methodology that allows waste to be benchmarked and categorised by source, type, amount and cost. This will help with the next stage, the prioritisation of actions to reduce waste and maximise material recovery. |
| Waste Minimisation Costs Assessment Table |
| Resources and Services | Scope to Save |
| Raw Materials | 1 to 5 % |
| Ancillary Materials | 5 to 20 % |
| Consumables | 10 to 30 % |
| Packaging | 10 to 90 % |
| Electricity | 5 to 20 % |
| Heat for process and space heating | 10 to 30 % |
| Water | 20 to 80 % |
| Trade effluent | 20 to 80 % |
| Solid and liquid waste disposal | 10 to 50 % |
| The true cost of waste is always much greater than the cost of disposal and is typically found to be 5-10% of turnover. |
Ranking the Options
Identify possible losses and rank them to prioritise issues to tackle first. Sometimes it may be best to choose smaller actions with little cost that produce quick results, others will require capital and resources to implement. Things to consider are:
- Environmental impact - which will produce the greatest environmental benefit?
- Finance - how much money will it take to set up or save?
- Manpower - the time and resources needed to implement?
- Risk - if only the minimum is done is there a legal or financial risk; could the company's reputation suffer?
Prioritising Action: Matrix
Develop and Implement an Action Plan
Clearly indicate the practical actions which should be taken, who is responsible for them and the timescale involved. Ensure that the practical action is linked to the 3 R's of the waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recover. (Additional information is available in the DETR publication 'Waste Strategy 2000'). The 'Champion' must be responsible for these actions, and must ensure that they are being carried out and that timescales are being adhered to.
A Role For Everyone
This guidance is aimed mainly at those building and developing, but everyone can learn from the principles and practical steps. Some of the North East's schools and community groups are already applying this thinking.
Rules of Thumb
Sources of Info
Case Studies
