Construction and Demolition waste survey : the grand finale

1. Construction and Demolition waste survey : the grand finale Miranda Lewis : Waste Policy advisor and Project Manager of the Environment Agency Construction and Demolition Waste survey

2. Overview • Why the need for the survey? • Methodology of the survey • Findings • Quantities • Types of waste by phase and sector • Industry and trends • Summary • Recommendations • Key messages

3. Key facts about Construction sector • Major contributor to the Welsh economy – contributes to 6% of Gross Value Added output in 2006; • Around 10,000 companies operate in this sector, employing nearly 56,000 people. Roles range from suppliers, producers, main contractors, sub-contractors, clients, and those involved in design, construction and maintenance • Over 8,000 homes built in 2005 • C&D sector activity is increasing

4. C&D sector activity

5. Proportion of waste handled at waste facilities

6. EA data 1 – proportion of C&D waste to landfill

7. So why the need for a survey? • Previous surveys focussed on inert rubble/hardcore (aggregate) and soils at final destinations, e.g. landfills, exemptions. • EA site returns data looks at waste arising from EWC Chapter 17 which lists common waste arising from C&D activities, e.g. concrete, soils, asbestos, metals. • Identified gaps in the data – what happens to waste when building new houses/refurbishment of old ones/commercial development/ highways • Survey funded by Welsh Assembly Government and Aggregate Levy Sustainable Fund to address gaps in data

9. So what are our aims? • PRIMARY AIM • To produce an estimate of the quantities, fates and composition of C&D waste produced in Wales in 2005-06. • We wanted data to help all companies in the C&D sector find out more about the types and quantity of waste produced by them. • We wanted to ask companies about the problems they face with waste and what prevents them from recycling and re-using C&D waste. • The data will also inform and advise WAG on their plans • to issue their consultation on Site Waste Management Plans in Wales in the autumn. The findings will provide WAG with evidence to support the consultation. • Wales Waste Strategy (WWS) so that they can consider policies and targets around C&D waste in the revised strategy planned for 2008/9.

10. Methodology

11. EA Wales C&D waste survey 1 • Survey collected data from over 200 companies whose main activities are demolition, construction, civil engineering and general builders (involved with installation and maintenance, i.e. plumbers, electricians, etc. • Results in the report available on EA website by – • Quantities of waste produced by companies : • by sector activity and type of waste; • Size of company, i.e. number of people employed; • Waste management option used; • Regional breakdown (North Wales/South East/South West)

12. C&D waste arising in 2005 is 12.2 million tonnes

13. EA Wales C&D waste survey C&D waste arising in 2005 is 12.2 million tonnes

15. EA Wales C&D waste survey

16. EA Wales C&D waste survey 2 • Other outputs • Composition of waste for each phase of construction development, e.g. site clearance and fittings; • Composition of waste in a typical (“virtual”) container such as a skip of waste arising produced by demolition, construction, civil engineering and general building sectors; • General trends on company, i.e. awareness of legislation among companies, knowledge of site waste management plans, barriers of recycling and re-use of waste.

17. Composition of waste by phase of construction development in a typical container, e.g. skip

18. Composition of waste by sector (% by weight)

19. Industry trends • Lack of awareness of the duty of care legislation. This was apparent from the lack of duty of care waste transfer notes kept by a significant proportion of companies surveyed. Many of the companies surveyed only used evidence of their waste from invoices. • Although not yet law, companies were asked on whether they were aware of plans for C&D sector to produce site waste management plan prior to commencement of C&D activity. • Only 30% of companies said yes. Around 69% of companies were not aware.

20. Industry trends 2 • When asked on whether the companies undertook any waste minimisation, re-use or recycling initiatives, over 87% of companies said yes. Table A7.2 in Appendix 7 outlines these initiatives in more detail. • Companies asked to name the main obstacles, issues/ problems the companies encountered in their activities on :- • recycling C&D waste, minimising/reducing production of C&D waste, and use of aggregates. Recycling was raised by companies as a significant problem, along with costs, time, and difficulties finding a recycling facility nearby to handle and recycle the companies’ waste (Table A7. 3, Appendix 7). Another challenge raised by companies was changing the mindsets of employees and subcontractors to recycling and re-use.

21. Summary • C&D waste arising 12.2 million tonnes. This represents 69% of total waste arising in Wales (total controlled waste 17.7 million tonnes) • 84% of the waste arising gets recycled and re-used (10 million tonnes). Highlights importance of Aggregate Protocol and other waste protocols in development • We need to do more - excluding re-use on site, 24% of waste is landfilled (1.2 million tonnes). • Source segregation increases recycling - results show that when wastes such as wood or metals were source segregated, the potential to recycle or re-use was considerably higher than if they were placed in a mixed waste container.

22. Recommendations • Number of recommendations made. Should be addressed by the Welsh Assembly Government, Environment Agency, local authorities, other support agencies and the C&D sector. • The findings of the survey should be used as evidence in supporting the determination of plans to manage C&D waste and consult on Site Waste Management plans consultation. • Improve document keeping – measure your waste • Data can be used to develop tools to help companies in the C&D sector to manage the types and quantity of waste produced by them. Use findings of the reports such as • Conversion factors • Average amounts of waste produced by company • Breakdown of likely types of waste arising by phase and sector • Existing recycling and re-use incentives already used by companies to help save on waste management costs and make money from your recyclate • Data useful to help prepare Site Waste management plan

23. Key messages • Recommendations for Welsh Assembly Government and other support agencies to help generate waste markets – this is already happening! • Clear communication – raise awareness of what companies need to do on legislation and managing their waste more effectively • Companies to raise awareness of good waste minimisation techniques they can use; pass the good word on. Source segregation/over-ordering of supplies, etc. • Recommendations for Wales, Environment Agency are also included.

24. Changing the way we manage waste

25. Lastly • Thanks for listening • Report is available on EA website as follows http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/regions/wales/816243/1985904/ Miranda.lewis@environment-agency.gov.uk