The second part of the In Site article we have been reading at BuilderScrap, is all about the waste generated by the construction industry.  Have a read and let us know what you think.

Waste

The construction industry generates 120m tonnes of waste each year.  That is three times as much as all households in the UK.   Of this 120m tonnes, 20m tonnes goes straight to landfill without any reuse or salvage.  In April 2008, the standard rate of landfill tax was £32 per tonne.  The rate will rise by £8 every April until at least 2010-2011.  As this tax rises year on year, wasting less and reusing or recycling more will become more attractive financially.
The NFB has worked with WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) to produce guidance for small and medium sized contractors called “reducing your construction waste” .  This is one of the deliverables from the government’s strategy for sustainable construction”.  The guidance leaflet and complementary poster both simply and clearly lay out the benefits of the waste hierarchy of reduce, reuse, recycle and dispose.  The leaflet has three case studies one of which belongs to NFB member Cawrey Ltd from Leicester.  The case studies illustrate how those companies have made significant cost savings through small changes.