The UK has a Waste Strategy that sets out a
hierarchy of approaches to waste management. First, try to reduce waste
production, then reuse or recycle waste, and finally dispose of waste
responsibly. The amount of waste in the South West is growing and far too much
goes to landfill sites. The business and public sectors have a major role to
play in reversing these trends.
Waste minimisation is about being
efficient. By preventing waste and emissions at source, all organisations can
increase output and profit, whilst protecting the environment. Few companies
know how much waste costs their business and how much it costs the environment
or human health. The real cost of waste can be 5-20 tim
es that of the cost of disposal. Typically it costs 4% of a
businesses’ turnover, although it can be as much as 10%. The ability to
minimise waste is, therefore a critical element of sustainable construction.
Remember:
True cost of waste
Disposal costs + Purchase costs of
materials + Costs of materials not used (incl. quality losses and
off-cuts) + Handling/processing costs (incl. transportation) +
Management time + Lost
revenue + Any potential liabilities (incl. pollution) = Much more than you realise!!
- Do you collect information about waste generated by
your activities, work out the scope for savings, and know your legal
obligations?
- Do you aim to move up the waste hierarchy by using
targets for the reuse and recycling of material and continually minimise your
production of waste?
- How can you minimise waste during construction of
development, for example by re-using building materials?
- Reducing the need for new disposal facilities
- Savings in costs, increasing profit
- Reduced risk of pollution and prosecution
- Benefits to the environment through reducing the use of
raw materials, saving energy and reducing pollution
- Stakeholders (clients, planning authority, local
community) for whom environmental performance is increasingly important are
more engaged and enthusiastic
- Horizon South West - www.horizonsw.org.uk - regional
co-ordination for waste minimisation organisations, environmental networks and
green business clubs
- Holwell, East Devon - use of recycled newsprint in the
roof space
- Skip it, Torquay
- Environment Agency offices, Bodmin, Cornwall - use of
recycled newspaper as insulation
- Wessex Water Headquarters, Bath - One of the most
successful innovations of this development was the segregation of waste on site
to enable recycling of 70% of all waste, with a net (landfill tax) saving of
£15,000 of construction costs
- Eden Project, Cornwall - all topsoil has been fabricated
on site using material excavated from the site mixed with organic material
- Environment & Energy Helpline - Tel: 0800 585794
- National Centre for Business and Sustainability - advice
on cost savings by improving environmental performance (www.thenbs.co.uk)
- Sustainable Business section of www.oursouthwest.com
- Dti Construction Best Practice Programme - www.cbpp.org.uk
- Envirowise - www.envirowise.gov.uk
- South West Industrial and Commercial Waste Minimisation
and Recycling Directory - Environment Agency. A free guide to companies that
require recycling services. It also lists contact details for waste exchange
services and local green business clubs. Contact the Environment Agency general
helpline Tel: 0845 933 3111 for more information
- Business Links - www.businesslink.co.uk
- PPG23 - Planning and Pollution Control
- Egan Report, Rethinking Construction, DETR
- Environment Agency website - www.environment-agency.gov.uk
- www.sustainmagazine.com - wide variety of articles, advice and products
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