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New guide and events
launched to help construction industry save money and carbon through
building materials reuse
Sustainable construction specialists
BioRegional Reclaimed have just published a report to help the construction
industry increase the levels of reclamation on all demolition projects
to save money and carbon. The report coincides with the launch of
two practical training days which are being run by BioRegional Reclaimed
and waste consultants WasteWISE on September 10th and 11th. The
report and events have been funded through Defra’s Business
Reuse Fund and the East of England Development Agency.
Why we need to reclaim
Waste reduction and local re-use carry significant carbon benefits.
For example, substitution of new materials for locally-sourced reclaimed
materials in construction work can radically reduce the lifecycle
environmental impact of that particular itema.
To achieve this in practice requires engagement and commitment from
government, clients, designers and contractors.
Two current initiatives from BioRegional focus on this engagement:
• The planning framework and programme should be flexible
enough to allow for sufficient time and space to achieve a reclamation-led
approach on site; and
• Increased space for consolidation and reuse of mainstream
construction products will increase the viability of reuse into
large-scale construction and DIY markets.
These two aspects are covered in our new report and forthcoming
events as set out below.
New Free Guide: “Reclamation
Led Approach to Demolition”.
BioRegional Reclaimed have just published the guide - “Reclamation
Led Approach to Demolition”. Its aim is to explain the opportunities
for contractors to increase the reclamation and reuse of construction
and demolition waste.
The report presents the specific steps needed to take a reclamation-led
approach to demolition. Fourteen case studies set out the cost benefits
and carbon savings where clients prioritise material reuse in their
work, and contractors match this with an approach that ensures the
extra time spent on reclamation brings improved financial returns.
BioRegional produced this report working with MWPP Consulting and
Minchinhampton Architectural Salvage Company and consultation with
key stakeholders across the reclamation and demolition sector.
The report can be downloaded for free from the BioRegional Reclaimed
website at http://www.bioregional-reclaimed.com/Case%20study%20files/BRJuly07.pdf
Two full-day training events on Reusing Building and Construction
Waste
Two full-day training events on “Reusing Building and Construction
Waste” are being jointly organised by BioRegional Reclaimed
and WasteWISE Consultants. The first workshop for the South East
and London is being hosted at the BedZED Centre, Beddington, South
London on 10th September, and the second, for the East of England
at the SmartLIFE Centre, Cambridge on 11th September. Both events
are CPD accredited by the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management.
The events will explore the wider
opportunities for all stages of increasing reuse, such as planning,
building and recycling. The lively programme will include expert
speakers and workshop leaders. They are aimed at contractors, designers,
architects, community based waste organizations, local councils
and environmental managers of development and construction firms.
The aims of the events are to:
• Explain opportunities and support for building firms and
organisations in reducing, recycling and reusing construction and
demolition waste,
• Increase re-use of building materials both within the construction
sector and into the DIY/SME market.
• Promote Consolidation Centres / Megayards and the BioRegional
Reclaimed model,
• Assess expansion of reuse including proposed Building Materials
Reuse Centres (BMRCs),
• Identify links to wider construction, renovation, growth
and waste reduction agendas,
• Highlight potential for using reused/recycled materials
is exemplar sustainability projects.
Jonathan Essex of BioRegional Reclaimed said: "Every year,
thousands of tonnes of our architectural heritage and reusable bricks
and new building material end up being scrapped - which makes neither
financial nor environmental sense, when so much of it can be recovered
and re-used. Reuse is almost always financially and environmentally
better than recycling or disposal. Waste reduction and local re-use
carry significant carbon benefits and form part of the strategy
for reducing the carbon footprint for construction.”
Lewis Herbert, Lead consultant at WasteWISE added: “Our
solution is to support the creation of two or three totally new
specialist Building Material Reuse Centres (BMRCs) and Reclamation
Megayards in East and South East England as demonstration projects,
where most material will be recovered and re-used and the rest sent
for recycling. These centres will provide a resource for architects,
property developers, builders and potentially the general public.
The new reuse businesses opportunity near major development sites
in the East and South could also benefit sustainable social enterprises,
adding extra employment and training opportunities."
WasteWISE research has identified over 100 successful BMRCs in the
USA which recover wasted construction materials and re-use scrap
building materials. This concept can also work well in the UK, particularly
near sites where 5000+ new homes are planned in the next decade.
The expansion of existing reuse business is also supported, further
helping the recovery of waste construction material, as well as
reducing some of the massive loss of material from demolition. This
agenda should be central to that of sustainable construction and
maintenance of the UK’s built environment.
Expert speakers and workshop leaders lined up include:
• Steve Tomlin of Minchinhampton Salvage, who recently visited
Building Materials Reuse Centres (BMRCs) in the USA
• Jonathan Essex, author of the new BioRegional publication
on material reuse and Megayards
• Jon Mussett, Building Research Establishment’s expert
on construction materials resource efficiency
• Lewis Herbert of WasteWISE who recently assisted the start-up
of a Tees Valley BMRC.
Recent work by WasteWISE in the Tees Valley has already led to a
team now working there to create a BMRC in Stockton. BioRegional
and WasteWISE research has recently also confirmed that there is
a potential market for everything from plain and decorative stonework
to old bricks and a whole range of original wood and metal fixtures
and fittings, as well as showing that careful reuse can be the cheaper
alternative to crushing all material on site. BioRegional and WasteWISE
have recently agreed a further project to develop improved business
plans for these projects.
CONTACT DETAILS FOR BOOKING 1-DAY
EVENTS:
For more info. on the 10th September event click here
or contact us directly: angela.roberts@bioregional.com
tel. 020 8404 4880
For more info. on the 11th September event contact gemma@wastewise.org.uk
tel. 01223 411494
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