Environment Secretary Dan Norris (pictured) has called on the UK construction industry to “embrace the financial and environmental opportunities waste reduction can offer”.
Recent analysis by the Government-backed Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) suggest that, if just 40% of projects adopted good practice nationally by 2012, a collective net saving of over £300 million could be achieved. The Minister’s call came as part of an event marking the first anniversary of WRAP’s voluntary agreement, “Construction Commitments: Halving Waste to Landfill”. Since its October 2008 launch it has attracted over 200 signatories, including Balfour Beatty, Laing O’Rourke, British Land, Marks & Spencer, ASDA, and Crossrail. These organisations combined, WRAP says, influence more than a quarter of the UK’s £100 billion national construction spend per year. Dan Norris said: “The construction industry has been through one of its toughest ever years. Hundreds of millions of pounds can be saved, and significant environmental benefits delivered, through reducing and re-using construction waste. The industry is already taking action, and needs to continue building
