sustaining our business and the world we live in

In 2006, we launched Target Zero, a plan to send zero non-hazardous waste to landfill by 2010. This commitment has been influential across the construction industry, which today is wholeheartedly committed to the principle of good waste management.

In 2010, more than 30%* of Wates’ sites sent 99%+ non-harzardous waste to landfill and as a Group we diverted 95%*. In four years, we have transformed our own approach to waste management and inspired others to follow. We were one of the first to sign WRAP’s ‘Halving Waste to Landfill’ pledge, which now has 500 signatories. Our future focus is to reduce the waste produced during construction, working with our supply chain to eliminate surplus and scrap materials from the building process.

Reaching the UK’s 2050 targets for reduced CO2 emissions will require the refurbishment of 26 million homes. Wates is at the forefront of retrofitting existing housing stock with low carbon technologies and during 2010 embarked on new research projects with key partners.

We will also promote productive relationships with supply chain partners whose specialist knowledge will contribute to low carbon solutions and, in 2011, we will continue to pioneer new methodologies and lead by example.

*Figures are based on information supplied by our waste service providers and include a number of assumptions