Government initiatives on construction and demolition waste

Katherine AdamsCentre for Resource Efficiency

Outline

• Situation today• Policy background• Where do we want to be? National and EU targets• How do we get there? Some key policy instruments• Construction Resources and Waste Platform

C&D Resources & Waste

• 400 million tonnes of materials used/year

• Up to 120 million tonnes of CD&E waste – one third of all waste

• Estimate around 25 million tonnes of CD&E waste is disposed of in landfill every year in England

• Uncertainties around the data• High wastage rates• Rising costs

England Waste Strategy 2007

• Waste as a resource• Waste policy contributes to

climate change objectives• Construction and demolition

identified as priority sector for action

• Focus on 25 million tonnes to landfill

• Proposed target of halving CD&E waste to landfill by 2012

Strategy for Sustainable Construction

• Joint Government/Industry strategy to promote leadership & behaviour change

Aims to:

• Improve efficient resource use;

• Help firms develop sustainable products or ways of working;

• Corporate and Social Responsibility.

Sustainable Construction Strategy – Waste

• Confirmed target of halving waste to landfill by 2012 compared to 2008.

• Cutting 25 million tonnes to nearer 12 million. Need to do some work on baseline data.

• 17 millions tonnes of waste to landfill is “soil and stones”.

• Subgroup of strategic forum focusing on C&D waste

Sustainable Construction Strategy – Actions

Waste as a Resource

• Resource availability a growing global issue• Need to identify barriers to markets for recovered raw

materials from the waste chain• The Environment Agency working closely with WRAP

on the Quality Protocols• Pathway to Zero Waste in the South East

Ending waste to landfill?

• Longer term ambition to end disposal of CD&E waste in landfill as far as practicable;

• But proposed target of “zero CD&E waste” to landfill by 2020 was rejected;

• Landfill remains the most suitable solution for some (hazardous) waste streams;

• Recycling & recovery capacity will be crucial

• Best practice at >90% landfill avoidance

Revised Waste Framework Directive:C&D waste target

• “by 2020, the preparing for re-use, recycling and other material recovery, including backfilling operations using waste to substitute other materials, of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste excluding naturally occurring material defined in category 17 05 04 in the list of waste shall be increased to a minimum of 70% by weight.”

Waste Framework Directive

• Will this be a driver for greater ambition on CD&E waste in the UK? Possibly not.

• Commission yet to set precise rules for measurement of target.

• Possible Commission study into C&D waste.• Commission can by 2014 propose additional targets

for specific waste-streams if overall target unlikely to be met

Economic instruments and regulation

• Various fiscal and regulatory measures are already driving up resource efficiency

- Landfill Tax

- Aggregates Levy

- Site Waste Management Plans

- Code for Sustainable Homes

- BREEAM

Site Waste Management Plans

• SWMPs have raised the issue of resource use and waste up the agenda;

• Lots of information for business, less so for local authorities;

• Oversight and enforcement important• Full review of the legislation in 2011/12• Somre requirements through planning • SMARTWaste Plan is a free tool to assist

Environmental Standards

Num

ber o

f bui

ldin

gs

Reg

ulat

ory

min

imum

Minimal

BREEAM

Aspirational

Pass

Goo

d

Very

Goo

d

Exce

llent

Out

stan

ding

BREEAM & Waste

• Wst 1 – Construction site waste management (max 4 credits)

• Wst 2 – Recycled aggregates (max 1 credit)• Wst 3 – Recyclable waste storage (max 1 credit)• Wst 4 – Compactor/baler (not in all schemes)• Wst 5 – Composting (not in all schemes)• Wst 6 – Floor finishes (not in all schemes)

BREEAM and WS1 – Construction waste measurement

• Up to 3 credits for waste reduction, based upon SMARTWaste benchmarks

• Max 1 credit for diversion from landfill

– 75% by weight, 65% by volume

• Pre-demolition audit if applicable

• Plus other requirements related to SWMP

BREEAM Credits

m3 per 100m2

Tonnes per 100 m2

1 credit 13.0 – 16.6 6.6 – 8.5

2 credits 9.2 – 12.9 4.7 – 6.5

3 credits < 9.2 < 4.7

Code for Sustainable Homes

• Launched in December 2006

• Mandatory for all new homes in England

• 1 to 6 star rating• 1 = above Building

Regulations • Licensed by BRE• Developed from EcoHomes

CSH: Construction Site Waste Management (Was 2)

Criteria Detail

Mandatory SWMP if project value over £300,000 (lower value automatic credit awarded)

Report in defined waste groups and set targets to promote resource efficiency

1 extra credit

Set requirements for reducing waste generated

In accordance with best practice (targets set for waste min, 3 waste groups)

1 extra credit

To set and follow procedures to sort and divert waste from landfill, either onsite or through a licensed waste management contractor

3 waste groups identified for diversion at pre-construction stage

Halving Waste to Landfill Commitment

• WRAP’s voluntary agreement provides a clear process to deliver the 1/2W2L target.

• They will be working across the sector to support implementation over the next three years

• A growing number of construction clients and practitioners are making the commitment and setting targets with their supply chains

Range of voluntary action underway

• Additional action under umbrella of Sustainable Construction Strategy

• For example, 20% reduction in construction packaging waste (Construction Products Association)

• Extension of Plasterboard Voluntary Agreement

• Resource plans for joinery and flooring sectors

• Defra product roadmaps for plasterboard and windows

• Creation of a new Construction Waste Group under Strategic Forum is helping to co-ordinate action

Product Roadmaps

Step 1: what are the impacts?

Step 2: what initiatives are already in place?

Step 3: what else can be done to reduce impacts?

Step 4: agreed action plan

Step 5: product roadmap

Policy m

apping

report

Stakehold

er mee

tings

What’s round the corner?

EUROPE

• Green Public Procurement • Construction Products Regulation (proposed)• Ecolabel for buildings• CEN 350

– Development of Horizontal Standardised Methods for the Assessment of the Integrated Environmental Performance of Buildings

• EcoDesign Directive• Sustainable Consumption and Production

Construction Resources and Waste Platform (CRWP)

• Funded by Defra

• Managed by AEA & BRE

• Reporting to steering group – Defra, St Gobain (Chair), M&S, Wates

• Help to deliver Waste Strategy 2007 & Sustainable

Construction Strategy 2008

• Industry led and focussed on construction resource

efficiency

• One stop shop – www.constructionwaste.info

Construction Resources and Waste Roadmap

• Launched July 2008

• Provides framework for change:

– Where are we now = current

state of play

– Where should we be heading =

targets

– How will we get there = actions

needed

• Provides a vehicle for change with

stakeholder buy in

Roadmap targets

Target 1

Halve the amount of (non-aggregate) construction

waste produced by 2015

Target 2

Halve the amount of construction, demolition and

excavation waste going to landfill by 2012 (as in the

Sustainable Construction Strategy)

Roadmap Actions

• Action 1: Set baseline data for construction related waste• Action 2: Measure performance consistently• Action 3: Extended producer responsibility• Action 4: Government Procurement• Action 5: Training• Action 6: Strengthen Code for Sustainable Homes • Action 7: Consistent approach to LCA and measuring

carbon impact of waste• Action 8: Consider whole life costs• Action 9: Reduce and reuse• Action 10: Simplify support

CRWP Website

CRWP Reports

The tasks

Task Industry support Evidence gathering

1. Secretariat support

2. Stakeholder engagement

3. CRWP Website

4. Update benchmarks and baselines

5. Roadmap update 2010

6. Development of True Cost of Waste Calculator

7. LCA data for end of life options

The tasks

Task Industry support Evidence gathering

8. Support on demolition waste

9. Making the right decisions

10. Resource efficiency across the supply chain

11. Planning requirements/SPGs and SWMPs

Conclusions

• Construction and demolition remain high priority sectors for sustainability, waste prevention, and resource efficiency

• A mix of economic, regulatory, voluntary and advisory measures will be needed to reach new national and EU targets

• The economic downturn means this agenda is more important, not less.

• Innovative research being undertaken• More requirements for better data to under pin policy

Thank you

For further information:

W: www.bre.co.uk

E: adamsk@bre.co.uk

T: 01923 664478