Jul 23 2007
WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) has announced the start of a number of pilot projects, which will test the proposed Net Waste Method, launched by the organisation last month.
The method, which aims to provide a clear metric of progress towards waste neutrality and set out how contractors can measure their efficiency in the use of material resources, is being trialled on eight projects across the UK.
- Bristol Building Schools for the Future and Skanska – a £120m project to build four new secondary schools by 2010.
- Pendle Vale College and Bovis Lend Lease – a £29m new educational facility in Lancashire.
- Asda, Bridgend and Carillion – the construction of a supermarket and roadway in Wales, due for completion in 2008.
- Child Development Centre, Hackney and Balfour Beatty – a four storey new build due for completion in 2008.
- Atkins regional office, Bristol and Wates – a £23m project, where construction is due to start in July 2007.
- Taylor Woodrow, residential scheme – a £9m project to build 120 houses in Market Drayton.
- Chessington Community College, Surrey and Willmott Dixon – a £19m project due for completion in March 08.
- Linton Hospital, Maidstone and Crest Nicholson – a £15m project of 150 units, due for completion in July 2009.
To assist organisations in the implementation of the Net Waste Method, WRAP ran a training workshop where those responsible for waste management on each project were able to learn more about measuring waste and the use of recycled materials. The method focuses attention on the value of materials being wasted and the potential to reduce that wastage.
Andrew Wright, Construction Manager at Bovis Lend Lease, who is currently trialling the method during the construction of Pendle Vale College in Lancashire, has described it as invaluable, commenting:“The Net Waste Method will provide the industry with a unique monitoring metric, which will assist all of us in demonstrating sustainable construction.
“The workshop provided by WRAP helped to clarify the methodology and tools which will enable us to identify opportunities where sustainable gains can be made. It will take time at first to embed the required processes throughout the project, but because the method can be tailored to fit with our existing reporting systems, it is set to really complement our corporate sustainability policy.”
Mike Watson, Head of Construction at WRAP, adds: “We are delighted to be working with some of the largest construction programmes that are on site at the moment. We hope that the results of the trials will show that the method can be easily adopted in line with other reporting processes and that, ultimately, it will provide a unique benchmark on resource efficiency and waste management going forward.”