waste

Construction produces three times as much waste as domestic households; 100 million tonnes every year, 25% of which ends up in landfill.

Wates’ waste programme, Target Zero, is focused on diverting waste from landfill and increasing the efficiency of materials. The aim is to reduce non-hazardous waste going to landfill to zero by 2010.

Providing leadership with our Target Zero programme, we are leading by example. Since its launch in 2006 we have increased the amount of waste we divert from landfill from 45% to 84%, with a target to have achieved 91% in 2009. We share our knowledge and best practice across the industry.

Working with customers and suppliers to deliver innovative waste solutions includes reviewing off-site fabrication, reducing packaging and introducing take back schemes for materials. To date over 100 customers have attended breakfast briefings on Target Zero and sub-contractors regularly attend waste workshops.

Closer to fewer; we have cut our number of waste management suppliers from 134 to 30 and signed five year contracts with those who we believe can make a significant impact on our performance improvement.

The reduce–reuse–recycle programme helps to support the lasting environmental and financial benefits from reducing the amount of waste produced in the first place and intelligent re-use of surplus materials.

Monitor and report performance;  we have appointed an external auditor to audit our key waste contractors and verify our own performance data. Working with WRAP and the UK Contractors Group, Wates has helped to develop an online tool for contractors to track and report their waste management performance.