Draft Business Waste Strategy PDF - london.gov.uk - Greater ...

Making waste work in London The Mayor’s Draft Business Waste Management Strategy Mayor of London 83
4B Managing construction, demolition
and excavation waste
Introduction
4.28 The construction industry
is vast; its output is worth £100 billion per
annum, contributes almost nine per cent to the
UK economy 183 and is the biggest consumer of
material resources – some 420 million tonnes
per year 184 . It is also responsible for 20 to 30
per cent of the UK’s waste, amounting to over
90 million tonnes per year 185 , of which an
estimated 13 million tonnes of materials that
are delivered to site
are not used 186 .
Municipal
Construction/
demolition/
excavation
4.29 In 2003, it was estimated that London produced 7.2 million tonnes
of construction, demolition and excavation waste 187 . Though this is the
second lowest amount of construction waste produced by any of the English
regions 188 it represents the largest fraction of all London’s waste. Without
sustainable waste and resource management systems being adopted across
the industry, London’s continued development will not be sustainable. The
London Plan 189 has set a minimum target for housing provision of 30,650
additional homes per year to 2016/17, which must be achieved alongside
realising the Mayor’s environmental objectives.
4.30 London’s construction sector can make a valuable contribution to London’s
sustainability. More efficient use of materials during refurbishment
or redevelopment would make a major contribution to reducing the
environmental impacts of construction, including reducing demand
for landfill and the depletion of natural resources. Better waste and
resource management will ultimately lead to the industry’s improved
economic performance.
4.31 The design of a development is critical to ensure that sustainable waste
management can be achieved during both the building’s construction
and operation, for example, recycling facilities should be integrated
into the design.
4.32 The government’s consultation on a Sustainable Construction Strategy
ended in November 2007 190 . The draft strategy proposed setting the
following targets for the construction industry:
Hazardous
Commercial
Industrial