We are delighted to announce that BuilderScrap has an exciting new identity.  From today the company is called recipro.

We still stand for all the same values – promoting and aiding the re-use and redistribution of construction materials, providing reciprocal benefits for the construction industry, local communities and the environment.  Our member base is now over 5000 around the UK and Ireland, and as well as construction and trade companies of all sizes, it includes charities, community groups, schools and many more.

The exciting growth and change for the company has led to the launch of the new identity- recipro.

You will still find all the same fantastic features you had with BuilderScrap, and watch this space for updates and features coming soon.  Remember it is completely free to use the website to pass on and find left over and re-usable construction materials!

Our new website is www.recipro-UK.com and all your login details will remain the same.

Managing Director, Les Owens comments on the re-branding: ‘We are really excited about the change as it demonstrates how far we have come from our beginnings as a website purely for small building companies to exchange left over materials amongst themselves. They can still do that, and it is those 5000 plus members who have helped us to realise the potential and need for the service to encompass all levels of the industry, as well as local communities’.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us on 0844 225 3000 or info@recipro-UK.com

Let us know what you think!

For twitter how about something like – Launched today – the brand new face of BuilderScrap – we have now rebranded as recipro http://recipro-UK.com

As you know, BuilderScrap works to move surplus building materials into projects in need and away from traditional waste streams.

Recently, we have managed to place a number of items to some North West community projects and we’d like to share their comments with our members:

Rampworx:

Liverpool based Rampworx works with 1000 young people a week to help them learn and develop practical and worthwhile skills for the future.

Rampworx were the beneficiaries of several pieces of office furniture from BuilderScrap, which helped to create an improved working space for the volunteers and staff to assist Rampworx to continue its good work in the local community.

Tony Berry of Rampworx said ‘BuilderScrap is a great website which has meant we can find free and low cost materials to lower our expenditure.  We are really appreciative and would recommend the service to any community or charity projects in need of materials and supplies.’

Particip8 in Wellbeing:

Particip8 in Wellbeing work with young people to equip them with information on sensitive social issues and also help them to develop the personal skills and confidence to make good life choices.

Susan Trish from Particip8 in Wellbeing said “Just wanted to say a big thank you for our tables and office furniture we have recently purchased from BuilderScrap. We are a small not for profit organisation and have been operating now using inadequate resources to say the least!! Thanks to your organisation we are now looking rather professional and no longer feel embarrassed holding meetings in our room!!!  You have been a great help and we appreciate it!!”

Warrington Rowing Club:

Warrington Rowing Club were recipients of a number of fire doors for installation at their club house.

Club Development Officer, Graham Atherton said “Warrington Rowing Club would like to put on record our thanks to the team at BuilderScrap who have helped in providing a sustainable and cost effective supply of materials for the development of the new clubhouse. Cost savings made through using BuilderScrap have enabled the club to make more progress than expected in delivering a first class clubhouse for the local community.”

The fifth annual North West Regional Construction Awards, organised by the Centre for Construction Innovation, are held in May this year and we are pleased to announce that BuilderScrap have been shortlised for two awards this year.  After receiving the Carbon Reduction Award last year, we were over the moon to find out that this year we were shortlisted in the Sustainability and Business Innovation categories.

Roy Stewart, CEO & Operations Director of the Centre for Construction Innovation, said: “The calibre and range of entries gets better year on year, the previous four years have been a huge success; with past winners going on to achieve national accolades. I have no doubt that this year’s awards will, once again, prove that the North West stands at the forefront of the construction industry”.

 There is some tough competition, so please keep your fingers crossed and watch this space for more news!

BuilderScrap employees have signed the petition to save the UK forests.

The Government has proposed to offload 258,000 hectares run by the Forestry Commission which has attracted cross-party criticism and public protest. The campaign and petition, being run by 38 Degrees, is aiming for 50,000 signatories and at the time of writing has 467528.

38 Degrees say:

“Save our forests – don’t sell them off to the highest bidder.

The government is planning a massive sell off of our national forests. They could be auctioned and fenced off, run down, logged or turned into golf courses and holiday villages.

We can’t let that happen. We need to stop these plans. National treasures like the The Forest of Dean, Sherwood Forest and The New Forest could be sold off. Once they are gone, they will be lost forever.

A huge petition will force the government to rethink its plans. If we can prove how strongly the public are against this, they will have to back down. Please sign the petition now.”

38 Degrees was launched in May 2009 with a campaign for a Recall Law. Since then they’ve had some brilliant achievements: their actions have helped save BBC 6Music and helped stop Trident being renewed for at least 5 more years. They’ve also collaborated with great people like the End Child Poverty Coalition, Crisis and Tripping up Trump.

Their aim is to use the latest technologies to make it quick and easy for people to take effective action.  Sometimes this action is online, like signing a petition or sending an email to your MP or the editor of a local paper. Sometimes it’s offline like calling your MP or joining a protest.

If you too would like to sign this petition, then please go to http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/save-our-forests

Findings from recent research undertaken by the Carbon Trust indicates that Britain is falling behind Germany in the take up of green business opportunities.

In a survey of Britain’s business leaders, the Carbon Trust found that 92% of respondents said that green growth represents an opportunity for British business. However, it also emerged that currently only a third invests money into research and development for green products and services.

The survey also found that 77% of business leaders believe that the largest benefit of “going green” was to produce an enhancement of their organisations corporate reputation. A third of those surveyed said that producing and implementing a sustainable business plan can have positive impact on the bottom line.

Research suggests that a global environment market exists worth an estimated 3.2 trillion; this represents a massive opportunity for UK business to take advantage of this growing market. The green agenda marks arguably the largest challenge and opportunity of the 21st century.

Tom Delay of the Carbon Trust commented “The consequences of British business failing to grasp this opportunity are almost too horrific to consider: anaemic growth, a jobless recovery and the risk of a return to the economics of boom and bust.

“We cannot afford to carry on as we did before. Businesses need to look beyond the short-term financial reporting cycle and place some smart, early bets on the future.

“Otherwise the cost, both to the UK’s economy and to the environment will be too great to ignore.”

Source: Edie.net (20th January 2011)

With the launch of the BuilderScrap Managed Service Pilot this month, we are actively seeking charities, schools and community groups in need of building materials and products. 

We will very soon be opening a new section of the website for these groups to promote their projects and list required materials, which we will be able to match with the construction materials coming in from the Managed Service Projects.

If you are, or know of, any projects who could benefit from this FREE service,

please call 0844 225 3000

or email Paul@BuilderScrap.com

According to the Federation of Master Builders cutting VAT on domestic repairs and maintenance work would bring the 1 million empty properties across the UK back into use.

If they were able to turn these currently empty properties into homes it would take a lot of pressure off the growing housing crisis which has to cope with five million people on the social housing waiting list with a further 90,000 living in temporary accommodation.

Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs at the FMB said: “Recent research commissioned by the FMB from the London School of Economics reveals that there is capacity within existing towns and cities to create all the new homes the UK needs and that reusing empty properties is one of the instruments to help fulfil this aim. “

“However, the current rate of VAT is acting as a disincentive for owners of unused properties to bring them back into use. Often it is cheaper to simply demolish and rebuild as new build is VAT exempt.”

Berry concluded: “Cutting VAT on domestic maintenance and repairs would not only mean many empty properties are brought back into use but would help boost an ailing construction industry by helping to create much needed jobs and apprenticeships for young people. Communities would also benefit too as getting rid of neglected properties would help create better local environments by helping to reduce crime and create demand for local services.”

“With house building at its lowest level since 1924 bringing empty homes back into use is a sensible way to help meet housing needs of every community around the UK and cutting VAT on domestic maintenance and repairs would make sure that this happens.”

The team here at BuilderScrap are always frustrated when hearing about buildings or construction materials not being used to their full value. Approcximatelty14% of the UK’s 120 million tonnes of construction waste generated each year is surplus brand new material, which equates to roughly 16.8 million tonnes. Currently these materials are recycled or sent to landfill without ever being used. By using this material for its intended purpose with in maintenance or empty properties environmental, social and financial benefits could be made.

At BuilderScrap we attempt to facilitate this through both our open house online exchange platform as well as our managed service pilot scheme launching December 1^st. This service seeks to identify and segregate surplus materials and redistribute these materials into charities and community project via a transition yard. This will enable charities and community projects to benefit from these materials for free or a heavily reduced cost.

If you know of any projects in the North-West that would benefit from this initiative please call is on 0844 225 300. Thanks.

This article was sourced from Construction Now.

At BuilderScrap we always looking at the listings for surplus building materials which our members post on the website.

We have been looking at this in more detail lately, and I have written this blog to help our users to get the most out of their listings.

The main feedback we have had is that people are much more willing to respond to a listing with a photograph of the building materials available.

Unsurprisingly free building materials have a higher response than ones being charged for! However, it is so important to put a cost on your item regardless, as many members have commented on this. If you are flexible on price ,O.N.O next to the price will make people more receptive to your listing.

A description should be fairly short and only include relevant information such as; size, age of item and current quality of the item. Include any words which people may search for when looking for this particular item.

An Example of Perfect Listing:

Name: Jacobean Brick

Description: Quantity 113, Colour – Buff, Depth – 65mm, Surplus – Never used

Cost: £30 O.N.O

Photograph:  

Everyone involved in the construction supply chain can now experience the benefits associated with BuilderScrap through the launch of a new Supply Chain Membership.

The BuilderScrap Supply Chain membership allows members of the supply chain to demonstrate their support for the reuse agenda and the BuilderScrap initiative, and provide a solution for their clients’ surplus construction materials.

Brendon Kenny of BuilderScrap commented ‘with sustainability, providence and supply chain waste management policies all becoming part of the tendering process for a lot of businesses, BuilderScrap offers a viable offering that can help alleviate the pressure on business when dealing with the management of reusable construction materials; a vital part of any sustainability programme.’

BuilderScrap has partnered with  Constructing Excellence Wales, to launch  a dedicated Welsh BuilderScrap platform on November 13th.

Karin Black, Waste Strategy Advisor for the Welsh Assembly Government said: “The rhetoric about waste reduction has gained momentum in recent years, but real alternatives have relied largely on the commitment of individual contractors and educated clients. The agreement with CEW to take up the challenge of supporting a significant diversion of materials from landfill by deploying the BuilderScrap materials reuse platform is a major step in the right direction. This is the first government backed initiative of its type in the UK and is pivotal to CEW’s’ ongoing strategy to reduce the waste generated by the construction industry.”

By choosing to work with BuilcerScrap as we  already have an established materials reuse platform, CEW has saved both time and valuable resources in creating the initiative which was launched on 13th November 2010 at the The Federation of Master Builders Annual Conference in Swansea.