New guide for the construction sector to drive re-use

Maximising re-use of materials on-site highlights the wide-ranging benefits of re-use on construction sites, and identifies a host of material re-use opportunities to help sites become more resource efficient.

The guide can be downloaded for free online, via Zero Waste Scotland’s Resource Efficient Scotland website.

The Scottish construction sector is not only the largest producer of waste in Scotland, but also the largest user of critical raw materials. According to findings by SEPA, construction accounts for over 40% of the country’s use of aggregates, timber, copper and lead (by value).

Caroline Gray, construction sector manager, Zero Waste Scotland, said: “This new guide, delivered through Zero Waste Scotland’s Resource Efficient Scotland programme, aims to help businesses realise the scale of opportunity that exists through on-site re-use – from minimising costs to developing new, sustainable business opportunities. The new guidance complements existing legal direction on re-use from SEPA.”

The guide was launched in the same week as a half day conference on re-use, an event run in conjunction with the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA). The re-use conference examined the current legislative position for re-use, a complex area that can act often be perceived as a barrier to implementing re-use activities.

CECA chief executive Grahame Barn, said: “Material re-use is a priority within the construction sector and we welcome the release of this new guide as it will help businesses to achieve this.”

A second half day conference is scheduled for 26 July: How to win work through innovative design. This event is being run in collaboration with the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

Tickets can be booked at zws_rias_innovative_design.eventbrite.co.uk

Zero Waste Scotland’s Resource Efficient Scotland programme provides free Government-funded support to small and medium-sized enterprises in Scotland to help them save money and become more resource efficient.