October 13 2008
The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is launching a new scheme which will allow members of the construction industry to sign up to an agreement to halve the amount of waste they send to landfill.
The agreement will work in much the same way as WRAP's Courtauld Commitment with the retail sector.
WRAP has developed an online tool, known as the Net Waste Tool, which will help construction firms to calculate the amount of waste that will come from projects, and how they can reduce it.
Head of construction at WRAP, Dr Mike Watson, said whilst speaking at the RWM conference, that for construction waste to be reduced, three areas will be key.
Firstly, clients should be aware of the problem and make waste minimisation and recycling part of their procurement requirements, he told delegates.
Project teams must also plan how to reduce waste and how to recycle or reuse what is produced at the design stage.
Finally, construction and waste contractors should work together to deal with the problem - an idea that would bring increasing opportunities for the waste industry, Dr Watson said.