Waste

Since 2012, we have reduced construction waste by 56% and continue to work towards achieving our 60% reduction target by the end of 2020.

In 2019 we continued to work with our demolition contractors and ground workers to identify improvements and ensure that they understand their responsibilities under the Duty of Care legislation. Our diversion of demolition waste from landfill was verified at an impressive 95%. Our excavation waste diversion rate was verified at a disappointing 57% due to the widespread use of default diversion rates.

Construction waste per £100k of project turnover

However, progress has stalled over the last year. Our analyses show that there is no one single cause for the increase in waste production. So, we are now reviewing our entire construction process, from preconstruction through to handover, to look at how we can better design-out waste. Lessons learned from this review have informed the development of our new Sustainable Development Strategy. From 2020, our focus will be on earlier intervention – looking at predicting and managing waste streams, and designing-out waste, long before the project goes on site.

Waste diverted from landfill (non-hazardous construction waste only)

Diverting waste from landfill continues to be a challenge for us, particularly when it comes to demolition and excavation waste. In 2019 we continued to work with our demolition contractors and ground workers to identify improvements and ensure that they understand their responsibilities under the Duty of Care legislation.

In 2019, we turned plastic waste into tarmac to pave new roads at Ashton Rise, Bristol. Non-recyclable plastic was removed from the site and turned into a product which replaces bitumen in the asphalt mix. This resulted in the team laying 170 tonnes of plastic-tarmac. Reusing this plastic prevented 1.6 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere -equivalent to reusing 150,000 plastic bags.

Thinking outside the skip

Our team in the North are challenging the waste that comes onto site through their ‘Think outside the skip’ initiative.

The initiative involves conversations with our mandated supply chain partners long before going on site, to identify ways to generate less waste. By presenting the challenge, ‘if we had no skips on site, what would you do?’, the team has kickstarted a new way of thinking about waste.

They trialled the approach on the Kings Dock car park project in Liverpool. According to our standard estimates, the project was predicted to need 593 skips. 18 months into the 22-month project, the team had used just 44 skips.

Our Interiors business has been trialling Storm Board – a 100% recyclable and reusable plastic hoarding solution. It is being rolled out on projects as an alternative to timber hoarding.