May 4 2004
Construction companies are currently unaware of the cost savings they can make through recycling according to research carried out by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme).
The research, carried out amongst various sized builders in the UK, shows that almost 80% of companies are oblivious to the potential savings they can make by recycling site waste. These savings are most often seen through reduced landfill costs, which can range between £30 - £70 per tonne.
Of all the companies questioned just over two thirds do send some waste materials to be recycled, the most common being wood and timber, bricks, concrete, paper and hardcore. The main barriers to recycling are seen as labour costs, sorting costs and an ‘its just waste’ attitude according to the survey.
When it comes to ‘buying recycled’ there is already an extensive range of construction products with increased recycled content readily available on the market, but there appear to be large misconceptions within the industry about availability, quality and cost of the products. 16% of companies don’t buy recycled because they believe the products cost more, but of the 42% that buy recycled, 73% buy them because they offer cost savings.
Julie Parry, Head of Communications at WRAP said: “This research shows the levels of misconceptions that exist within the construction industry, and this is an area where increased awareness is needed to change these perceptions, and encourage people to recognise the benefits from both recycling their waste and buying recycled.”
The research also highlights the need for more information on all aspects of recycling to improve the construction industry’s record on recycling, specifically the logistics of recycling, the types of materials that can be recycled, the pre-sorting required. The most telling outcome from the survey however, is the fact that such a large amount of companies are unaware of the cost benefits that are easily achievable.
Source: WRAP