We commit to eliminating all avoidable construction waste by 2030. Eliminating waste makes us more efficient, reduces our consumption of natural resources and supports our transition from the take-make-dispose model of delivery.
Construction waste volume and intensity
|
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Waste volume (m3) |
116,000 |
91,000 |
114,000 |
96,000 |
72,000 |
73,000 |
73,000 |
70,000 |
69,000 |
53,000 |
|
Waste intensity (m3/£100k) |
14.6 |
10.4 |
10.9 |
8.7
|
7.2 |
6.4 |
6.3 |
6.5 |
6.21 |
5.44 |
During 2021, we required all new projects to develop a construction waste elimination plan and to set a bespoke target that can be monitored on a real time basis on site. We also implemented a requirement for our supply chain goods partners with who we work most closely to have a waste reduction strategy.
By the end of 2021, we reduced absolute construction waste by 54% and construction waste intensity (relative to turnover) by 63% since 2012, the year we began reporting against these metrics.
Supporting a circular economy
In 2021, we supported the start-up of The Pallet LOOP, which incentivises pallet returns via a deposit-based system. The Pallet LOOP prevents pallets from becoming waste by collecting used pallets for re-use and repair.
Our partnership with Community Wood Recycling saw 944 tonnes of waste removed from our sites, which was either recycled or turned into new products. Community Wood is a social enterprise which creates jobs for local people. In 2021, our partnership led to 10 new jobs being created, including one for Joe, who is now employed by Somerset Community Wood. Read more in our 2021 impact report here.
Our target to reduce waste has inspired our teams to think outside of the box. Our team working on our Gateshead Quays Multi-Storey Car Park project turned waste concrete into a product, which can be used as a ballast block for site hoarding. Read more here.
Waste diverted from landfill (non-hazardous construction waste only)
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
90% |
>95% |
96.7% |
>96% |
98.6% |
99.0% |
98.7% |
Waste diverted from landfill (Demolition and Excavation waste only)
|
Year |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Demolition Waste |
95.0% |
95.6% |
92.1% |
|
Excavation Waste |
56.9% |
84.5% |
80.0% |
In 2021, diversion of construction waste from landfill remained consistent with performance in 2020. We continued to work with our demolition contractors and also our groundworkers, but performance has worsened slightly for demolition and excavation waste diversion rates compared to last year.
For groundworks, our focus is now on finding ways to reuse the earth that is excavated from our sites so that we avoid it becoming a waste (rather than aiming to divert waste away from landfill) and we are working on developing reporting metrics that will enable us to measure this.
On our Stockport Interchange project, our team re-used 74% of excavated material, meaning no additional soils or aggregates needed to be imported to site. This significantly reduced demand for natural resources and reduced transport-related impacts of importing materials.
In 2022, we will work with our demolition contractors to improve the reuse of demolition materials, so that we follow the hierarchy of reuse, recycle and then landfill as a last resort.
Reducing single-use plastic
As a first step towards our ambition to have no single-use plastic waste on our sites, in our workplaces or at our events, we have also developed a standard for eliminating avoidable single-use plastics in our offices, identifying 19 items that will be eliminated.
Read more about our zero avoidable waste ambition here.