Cut waste out from the start
2nd February 2010
A collaborative approach and sound planning produced fantastic waste management results at Newport High School.
People tend to forget that waste can be designed out of a building project. If it is planned correctly and the project team works together to avoid generating waste, then waste can be minimised. For Newport City Council this was crucial when they embarked upon rebuilding two secondary schools, Bettws and Hartridge.
Reducing waste from the outset of the scheme was a primary target and it was agreed to involve the entire supply chain in conjunction with the main contractor, Leadbitters. The goal was to go beyond normal compliance with legislation, but to be realistic as well. The first step was the use of a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) as a tool to monitor waste production; target the construction elements with recyclable value; review the SWMP on monthly intervals to achieve a Waste versus Resource Action Plan as per WRAPs Best Practice guidance. There was commitment across the whole project with consistent re-use of surplus materials such as stockpiling topsoil; insulation off-cuts reused by masonry contractor to avoid cold-bridging; bricklayer’s waste crushed on site and reused for community projects.
Most importantly, the team has achieved its goals. Of the 24,607 cubic metres of waste created, over 24,000 cubic metres has been reused and only 67.8 cubic metres went to landfill. That’s a diversion of 24,500 cubic metres from landfill. It is a great result and testimony to the commitment of the team. That is also why it won the CEW Waste Award, last year.
The scheme is a CEW demonstration project and there are lots of other examples to learn from that highlight different aspects of best practice; go to the CEW Demo Examples page or call David Clague on 02920 493322.
Tags: CEW, Constructing Excellence in Wales, Construction Waste