Construction firms on course to halve waste by 2012

Construction companies are on target to halve waste by 2012 according to the Waste & Resources Action Programme. The WRAP signatory report for 2011 shows that companies signed up to the programme have significantly decreased waste sent to landfill.

32 construction companies signed up to the programme in 2008 in a deal to curb the amount of construction, demolition and excavation waste the industry produces each year.

Combined figures for the firms reveal a total decrease of 28% in CD&E waste sent to landfill between 2008 and 2009.

This is a drop from 3.1 million tonnes in 2008 to 2.2 million tonnes in 2009.

Lord Henley, Waste and Recycling Minister, was supportive of the programme and praised the companies involved for supporting the initiative. He said:

“Architects, engineers and builders across the country are saving money and the environment by cutting down on throwing out valuable material.

“Construction businesses, big and small, are now on board and making this happen, so I’d challenge those not yet involved to also step up and see the real value that halving waste to landfill will bring.”

Dr Liz Goodwin, chief executive of WRAP said:

“Today’s Halving Waste to Landfill figures are just the beginning and give me confidence that industry is working hard and well on track to deliver the target by 2012.”