Materials Resource Efficiency in Construction Mark Collinson, WRAP EAUC Annual Conference, 18 th April

What is WRAP? Waste and Resources Action Programme funded by DEFRA helps to minimise landfill, reduce carbon emissions and improve our environment encourages and enables business and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials

WRAP’s focus

UK material flows in construction Overall material consumption by construction industry (>400 Mt per year) M tonnes Quantity of construction and demolition waste generated (120 Mt per year UK) Waste construction materials landfilled in the UK (60 Mt per year)

UK waste arisings

Recycled content in construction

Which of these products contain recycled content? 65% 100%>80% Lightweight blockPlasterboard GlasswoolAggregates 80%

Perceived barriers higher recycled content will cost more

Identifying opportunities to increase recycled content WRAP maintain data on three benchmarks of recycled content for construction materials. Standard: level of recycled material content likely to be used if no request for recycled content is made Good: a higher level of recycled content than standard practice, but readily available at competitive cost (cost neutral) Best: highest level of recycled material content currently available in the UK

% Recycled Content Cost (£) A cost neutral opportunity Standard Good Best

Perceived barriers higher recycled content will cost more products suffer from quality and performance issues

Examples of mainstream products Product typeLow RC optionHigher RC option Dense block0% Hanson “Conbloc” 70% Wall insulation0% Superglass “Superwall” Cavity Slab 80% Reconstituted roof slate 0% Sandtoft “Britslate” 80% Ceiling tiles0% Armstrong “Dune Supreme” >50% Pavers0% Charcon “Eco-pave” >70% Aggregate - binder course 0% Colas “Foam-mix” 95%

Perceived barriers higher recycled content will cost more products suffer from quality and performance issues availability problems

Perceived barriers higher recycled content will cost more products suffer from quality and performance issues availability problems a 10% minimum requirement is difficult to achieve

10% - readily achievable across sectors Type of project Baseline/actual practice Cost neutral good practice Detached/terraced house6 - 26% % Commercial office % % School, hospital % % Road reconstruction8 - 16% % Bridge reconstruction % %

Perceived barriers higher recycled content will cost more products suffer from quality and performance issues availability problems a 10% minimum requirement is difficult to achieve finding and measuring recycled content is onerous

The recycled content toolkit calculates the recycled content ‘standard practice’ baseline identifies the largest Quick Win (movement towards ‘good practice’) opportunities, using information on basic dimensions and key design specifications provides pre-formatted performance reports:

Which concrete block should I buy ? 65% 25% 5% 40%

Selecting quick wins

WRAP reference guide provides a directory of products with higher levels of recycled content. can be built into existing material selection processes selected Quick Wins specified by performance characteristics designers and contractors review the practicality of Quick Win options – capital cost and availability – durability – quality / aesthetics – buildability

Recommended wording ‘….at least 10% of the total value of materials used should derive from recycled and reused content in the products and materials selected. In addition, show that the most significant opportunities to increase the value of materials derived from recycled and reused content have been considered, such as the top ten Quick Wins or equivalent, and implement good practice where technically and commercially viable.’

Practical examples of recycled content usage

Case study – University Halls of Residence Queens University, 2006 Opportunities to increase recycled content: dense blockwork carpet tiles low strength concrete hardcore Plasterboard. Use of recycled content (as a % of total value of materials): standard practice: 15% readily achievable at equivalent cost: 25% maximum achievable but at extra cost: 37%

Case study – Hospital design options St Barts and The London Hospitals, 2005 Opportunities to increase recycled content: services flooring brickwork and block-work sub-structure roofing concrete frame lifts curtain walling / cladding. Use of recycled content (as a % of total value of materials): Standard practice: 19% Readily achievable at equivalent cost: 30%

Use of recycled content (as a % of total value of materials): standard practice: 5-9% good practice at no extra project cost: 50-63% Case study – Waste recycling infrastructure Dundee and Merseyside city councils, 2005 Opportunities to increase recycled content: capping and sub-base. fill materials. concrete (using cement replacement materials and recycled aggregates). asphalt. drainage products. topsoil (e.g. incorporating compost).

Taking action in education Building Schools for the Future minimum threshold for recycled content in model Output Specification Bradford University minimum recycled content requirement in refurbishment programme Leeds Metropolitan University corporate policy for minimum requirement for new buildings

Who is taking action? Glasgow City Council Newcastle City Council Solihull MBC British Land Welsh Health Estates Greater London Authority Northern Ireland Procurement Directorate Defence Estates Building Schools for the Future (BSF) National Grid Raploch Urban Regeneration Company Skanska Scottish Executive NOMS … and many, many more

Summary

increasing recycled content has a tangible impact on resource efficiency setting a requirement is easy to do no impact on: –cost –design or specification –quality –other project goals WRAP support for: –policy and project wording –calculating recycled content –identifying products a quantifiable, demonstrable contribution to a sustainability or CSR strategy.

Recycled paper advocacy team 8 consultants covering the UK paper and print related backgrounds technical advice and support recommended specification for recycled content explain to organisations the environmental and business benefits of using recycled paper FREE

Thankyou WRAP Recycled content toolkit Recycled products database Aggregain