Materials Resource Efficiency in ConstructionMark Collinson, WRAP EAUC Annual Conference, 18th 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 t

on

nes

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 block Plasterboard

Glasswool Aggregates

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

% R

ecycle

d C

on

ten

t

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 type Low RC option Higher RC option

Dense block 0%Hanson “Conbloc”

70%

Wall insulation 0%Superglass “Superwall” Cavity

Slab80%

Reconstituted roof slate

0%Sandtoft “Britslate”

80%

Ceiling tiles 0%Armstrong “Dune Supreme”

>50%

Pavers 0%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 projectBaseline/actual

practiceCost neutral

good practice

Detached/terraced house

6 - 26% 16 - 29%

Commercial office 10 - 22% 12 - 30%

School, hospital 12 - 20% 15 - 27%

Road reconstruction 8 - 16% 27 - 29%

Bridge reconstruction 18 - 23% 33 - 49%

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

Selecting quick wins

Selecting quick wins

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 ResidenceQueens 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 infrastructureDundee 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 educationBuilding 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 CouncilNewcastle City CouncilSolihull MBCBritish LandWelsh Health EstatesGreater London AuthorityNorthern Ireland Procurement DirectorateDefence Estates Building Schools for the Future (BSF)National GridRaploch Urban Regeneration CompanySkanskaScottish ExecutiveNOMS

… and many, many more

Summary

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

Mark.Collinson@wrap.org.uk

WRAPhttp://www.wrap.org.uk/construction

Recycled content toolkithttp://www.wrap.org.uk/rctoolkit

Recycled products databasehttp://www.wrap.org.uk/rcproducts

Aggregainhttp://www.aggregain.org.uk