2. Foreword
One of the original Plan A
targets we set ourselves
in 2007 was to send zero
construction waste to landfill
by 2012. We completed that
goal and now we are building
on our success by driving
efficiency in the way that we
use resources. Beyond 2016
we want to further explore
our part in the circular
economy by joining up
initiatives and streamlining
operations. This is in line with
wider Plan A commitments
to install Plan A in all areas
of our business.
A key priority for M&S is
to continue to reduce
waste arising from our
construction activities.
Not only does this
demonstrate our continued
commitment to Plan A, it
also sends a clear message
to our suppliers and
contractors that all of our
sites will become exemplars
of resource efficiency. We will
work together to drive out
waste from the construction
process which will reduce
our environmental impact
and save on costs.
This Waste Minimisation
Guide has been designed
to inform and inspire our
partners. One of our Plan
A priorities moving forward
is to improve transparency.
This guide, which is the
second of its kind, is part of
the improvements towards
transparency we are
aspiring to.
The guide explains our
thought process behind why
and how we are striving to
minimise our construction
waste. We will outline our
move as a business to a
more circular economy
and how this impacts our
work on waste minimisation
through designing out,
employing Building
Information Modelling,
using off-site construction
techniques and recycling
through the communities
that we build in.
We have measured our
progress on an annual basis
by analysing reports from
SMART Waste. Our data has
been updated since our last
guide, however our targets
remain the same. We will
continue to track and
publish our waste data in
the hope it will influence our
supply chains and partners
to continue to work with
us to drive down waste and
save money.
Paul Glinn
Head of Architecture
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 2
3. Introduction
Regulations and Standards
Waste Minimisation
Cost of Waste
M&S Construction Waste Benchmarks
M&S Waste Reduction Targets
M&S Waste Minimisation Action Plan
Policy & Procurement - Related Actions
Design - Related Actions
Site - Related Actions
Sharing Knowledge Actions
Looking Forward
Glossary
Appendix
SMART Waste Contractor Input Guidelines
p4
p7
p8
p6
p9
p10
p21
p20
p22
p11
Contents
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 3
4. In June 2014, we set out on
the third stage of our Plan
A journey. We launched Plan
A 2020, which reflects our
determination to put Plan
A at the heart of our brand
and corporate strategy and
focuses on engagement and
collaboration.
A number of the
commitments in Plan A 2020
aim to help us drive down
waste in our construction
programme including:
• Building Information
Modelling (BIM)
• Off-site Construction
• No waste to landfill -
construction
Both BIM and off-site
construction feature in this
guide.
We launched Plan A in
2007, setting out 100
commitments that involved
working with our customers
and suppliers to combat
climate change, reduce
waste, use sustainable raw
materials, trade ethically and
lead healthier lifestyles.
One of our key Plan A
targets was to send zero
waste to landfill by 2012 and
in February of that year, we
achieved our goal.
The chart below shows how
this was achieved over the
five years against the interim
targets we set ourselves.
Introduction
Diversion from landfill
75% 75%
84% 85% 88% 90%
97%
95%
100% 100%
2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12
Actual Target
About Plan A
The construction industry is
reliant on natural resources.
We need to use these more
effectively to reduce the
impact of inevitable price
increases in the future.
Waste minimisation moves
beyond the sustainable
removal of waste through
our commitment to zero
waste to landfill and
embraces an approach
which considers how we
reduce the amount of waste
that we produce. There are a
number of key drivers that
make waste minimisation a
critical issue for those in the
sector:
• Increasing resource costs
• New policy and regulations
favouring waste minimisation
• Harmonisation of building
products and sustainability
objectives in construction
• Client demands for
sustainable buildings.
Construction, demolition
(C&D) and excavation waste
forms a large proportion of
waste production. In 2012,
over 200 million tonnes
of waste was produced in
England, of which nearly
half arose from construction
related activities. Reducing
our C&D waste is therefore a
priority for action.
What is waste
minimisation?
Reports estimate that
commodity prices have
risen by 147% in real terms
since 2000 and will continue
to rise in the future, driven
by rapid increases in the
number of middle class
consumers across the world.
In practice, the definition
of waste minimisation
encompasses two elements
of the waste hierarchy:
• Prevention: using
less material in design,
manufacture and installation,
keeping products for longer
and using less hazardous
materials
• Preparing for reuse: using
products again for the
same purpose for which
they were conceived (may
require checking, cleaning
or repairing / preparing for
reuse).
Disposal
Other recovery
Recycling
Preparing for reuse
Prevention
EU Waste Framework Directive
(2008) waste hierarchy
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 4
5. Environmental
The business case for
reducing waste is clear, but
equally as important are
the environmental benefits
which are outlined below:
• Lower embodied carbon
impact through using less
materials
• Lower transport impacts
from bringing extra
materials in and shipping
waste out
• Lower impacts from
waste management – even
recycling has some impact
• Finally, there are social,
health and safety benefits
from having a tidier site with
less waste to deal with and
the potential for donating
resources to the local
community.
Financial
In 2014 we spent over
£1.5 million on managing
construction waste (includes
waste management costs,
labour costs and wasted
materials1
), despite achieving
our zero waste to landfill
target.
Our next challenge is to
drive down costs even
further by avoiding waste
production wherever
possible. This has a triple
financial benefit in relation
to the overall cost of waste:
• Overall waste cost = cost
of material + cost of waste
management + cost of
labour2
We are reducing our cost of
waste in the following ways:
• Reviewing the preliminary
requirements for all types of
schemes
• Further implementation
of BIM
• Off-site construction
• Minimise design changes
• Review of specification
• On-site storage areas
• Community reuse.
Why is waste minimisation
important for our business?
1. Waste management costs are known. The following assumptions were also used to calculate total costs and projected costs:
labour cost £40/hour and 2.5 hours per day; materials wasted costs £116 per tonne
2. This includes the labour cost for creating the waste, putting the waste into the appropriate container and managing the waste,
including its removal from site
Between 2012 and 2014 we
have reduced construction
related waste costs across
all projects by 9%. This
is directly related to our
volume of waste. Further
information on the volume
and cost of waste can be
found on Pages 7 and 8 of
this guide. The key actions
that we implemented to
achieve this reduction,
identified in the M&S
Site Waste Management
Strategy, were:
• Best practice in Site Waste
Management Planning
• All SWMPs and waste data
captured on SMARTWaste by
all contractors working on
M&S construction projects
• Defining ‘standard’,
‘good’ and ‘best’ practice
benchmarks
• Developing site waste
segregation requirements
• Working with a single waste
broker to ensure high levels
of recycling/ recovery
• Detailed reporting and
key performance indicators
(KPIs).
What we have
implemented
Each project offers different
opportunities for waste
minimisation. Later on in
this guide, we identify some
key actions that should be
considered for every M&S
project. In addition, there are
a number of other actions
that can be implemented
in order to reduce waste
on specific construction
projects.
These should be developed
as each site becomes
an exemplar of resource
efficiency.
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 5
6. Regulations and
Standards
The EU Waste Framework
Directive (2008) requires
member states to adopt a
new waste hierarchy (see
page 4), which should act
as a ‘priority order’ in waste
prevention, legislation and
policy. This means that
all decisions on waste
policy, infrastructure and
management are expected
to take the hierarchy into
account.
Since 2013 all member
states have been required
to have and abide to a waste
prevention plan.
Work is well underway on
harmonising construction
sustainability standards
across the EU. National
schemes will need to follow
common European or
international standards (e.g.
for environmental labelling)
in order to reduce costs and
confusion.
A number of sector based
REAPs have been published.
These have typically
been supported by the
Construction Products
Association, WRAP and
industry representatives
from across the particular
sector supply chain, and
include completed plans for
the following sectors:
• Clay Bricks and Clay Blocks
• Composite Materials
• Precast Concrete
• Ready-Mix Concrete
• Windows
• Plasterboard
• Flooring
For some of our
developments BREEAM is
a planning requirement.
Waste reduction and use of
resources are key categories
within BREEAM and other
sustainability standards such
as Ska and CEEQUAL. For
a fully fitted out building,
according to BREEAM 2014,
a waste category is worth
8.5% of the total certification
score for most building
types.
Designers have significant
influence in the construction
process. The Designing Out
Waste Process devised by
WRAP allows designers to
Waste reduction
policy
Resource Efficiency
Action Plans (REAP)
BREEAM
Designing Out
The Construction
Products Regulation
(CPR)
The Construction Products
Regulation (CPR) sets out
harmonised conditions
for the marketing of
construction products
within the EU and clarifies
the concept and use of CE
Marking.
Since 2013 it has
been mandatory for
manufacturers to apply CE
marking to all products that
are covered by a harmonised
European standard or
European technical
assessment3
. As yet, this will
3. Guidance note on the Construction Products Regulation, Version 2,
December 2012, Construction Products Association
have a direct impact on
reducing resource use and
waste. Methods of Designing
Out include:
1. Design for re-use and
recovery
2. Design for resource
optimisation
3. Design for off-site
construction
4. Design for resource
efficient procurement
5. Design for the future.
The Designing Out Waste
process devised by WRAP
involves three stages:
1. Identify alternative design
solutions that reduce
materials use and/or creation
of waste, and prioritise those
that will have the biggest
impact and be easiest
to implement. This stage
requires a design review.
2. Further investigate the
prioritised solutions and
quantify the benefits in
terms of reductions in
waste, cost and carbon.
This enables evidence-
based decision-making on
which design solutions to
implement.
3. Implement agreed waste
solutions through plans,
specifications and contracts.
Record the solutions in the
Site Waste Management
Plan to ensure they are
fully communicated to
the contractor and that
the quantified benefits are
captured.
not require a declaration of
performance in relation to
resource use.
There are new requirements
within the CPR relating
to the sustainable use
of natural resources that
took effect in 2013. The
requirements give rise
to new provisions for
construction products
included in individual
products standards and
harmonised technical
specifications.
This is good news for
consumers of construction
products as it means that
the information relating
to resource use and waste
should become more
widespread, transparent
and consistent throughout
the EU. It also means that
suppliers should be more
willing to engage in actions
that have a positive impact
over the lifecycle of their
product.
• Joinery
• Mineral Wool Ceiling Tiles
• Building Insulation Foam
A number of these plans
are particularly relevant to
our store development and
refurbishment programmes.
For example, the flooring
REAP outlines how the
current replacement cycle
for carpet tiles is driven by
fashion and trends rather
than the actual lifespan
of the tiles. This increases
the environmental impact
and amount of tiles being
recycled.
The WRAP website is
currently under review and
therefore content may not
be available in the future.
If you require content
please contact M&S directly
and we shall provide the
documentation that
you require.
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 6
7. Waste Minimisation
We have analysed
the amount of waste
produced across our store
development programme
since 2011. The following
graphs show the great
progress that has been
made on our Initiative and
Development projects.
Since the introduction of
the first Waste Minimisation
Guide we have seen a very
consistent reduction in
waste from our Initiative
projects.
The amount of waste
produced by our
Modernisation projects
has fluctuated between 20
and 80 tonnes per project
over the past 5 years. This
variation is due to the varied
nature of Modernisation
projects, from light touch
refurbishments through
to full reconfigurations of
stores.
In 2011 we had two large
new build developments for
which we were responsible
for the base build (Cheshire
Oaks and Ecclesall Road).
These sites had a significant
amount of demolition and
excavation waste. This is
highlighted on Graph 4.
NB. 2015 data is for stores
completed as of 30th
November.
Initiatives
Modernisations
Developments
Average Tonnes of Waste per Project
- All Project Types
Average Tonnes of Waste per Project
- Initiatives
Average Tonnes of Waste per Project
- Modernisations
Average Tonnes of Waste per Project
- Developments
Graph 4
Graph 3
Graph 2
Graph 1
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 7
8. Cost of Waste
Since the launch of our first
Waste Minimisation Guide in
2012 we have continued to
analyse the cost of waste to
M&S4,5
. We are making good
progress and the costs are
reducing, but they are still
big numbers so there is
more we can do.
Graph 1 tracks our key
waste KPI (tonnes of waste
per £100k of project value)
over the last 7 years. The
graph shows good progress
in reducing this key KPI.
Please note that in 2011 we
had two large new building
schemes (Cheshire Oaks
and Ecclesall Road) which
had a significant amount of
demolition and excavation
waste.
As well as reducing the
amount of waste per £100k
of project value, the cost of
waste to our business has
also reduced over the past
four years. Graph 2 shows
the reduction in the cost of
waste per project since 2012.
4. Waste management costs are known. The following assumptions were also used to calculate total costs and projected costs:
labour cost £40/hour and 2.5 hours per day; materials wasted costs £116 per tonne
5. This includes the labour cost for creating the waste, putting the waste into the appropriate container and managing the waste,
including its removal from site
Average tonnes of waste per £100k of project
(All projects)
Graph 1
Average cost of waste per projectGraph 2
Cost (£)
Tonnes
per £100k
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 8
9. MS construction
waste benchmarks
Since 2007 we have been
collecting data on the
amount of construction
waste produced through our
projects. Data from 2013-
2015 has been analysed to
provide standard practice,
good practice and best
practice benchmarks for
each project type. These
are summarised in the table
below.
The best practice
benchmarks have been used
to set targets at project
level to be achieve by 2020,
relating to project type.
How are waste
benchmarks set?
Best performance = top 25%
Good performance = 25-50%
Standard performance =
bottom 50%
Benchmarks per Project Type (tonnes of waste produced / £100k project value)
Project Type
Initiative
Modernisation
0.92
3.34
1.78
0.41 - 0.92
1.91 - 3.34
1.18 - 1.78
0.41
1.91
1.18
Standard Performance Good Performance Best Performance
Development
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 9
10. MS waste reduction
targets
The average amount of waste generated across all store
construction projects will be 2 tonnes / £100K project value.
This will be achieved by meeting the following objectives:
• Initiative projects will produce 1.6 tonnes waste / £100K
project value
• Modernisation projects will produce 2.9 tonnes waste /
£100K project value
• Development projects will produce 2.16 tonnes waste /
£100K project value.
The average amount of waste generated across all store
construction projects will be 1.5 tonnes / £100K project
value. This will be achieved by meeting the following
objectives:
• Initiative projects will produce 0.73 tonnes waste / £100K
project value
• Modernisation projects will produce 1.87 tonnes waste /
£100K project value
• Development projects will produce 1.08 tonnes waste /
£100K project value.
The graph below shows that we have made great progress
against these targets, having already achieved our 2016
target. Table 1 provides interim goals to support the
achievement of the 2020 target.
Our construction waste by 2016
Interim goals for tonnes
of waste /£100k project value
Table 1Average tonnes of waste per 100K project - targets
Our construction waste by 2020
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 10
11. MS waste minimisation
action plan
Stage Actions Check
SAM 1 scheme
briefing
Set waste reduction targets
Adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Standardise components and offsite / modular build opportunities
Consider durability and service life issues
Dematerialisation techniques applied
SAM 3 full
presentation
and sign off
Early design freeze and minimum changes
Procurement
Make suppliers responsible for their packaging
Ask suppliers to take back surplus / off-cuts
Tender / prelims
Prepare a materials logistics plan
Consider community reuse
Appoint waste champions on each project
Start onsite Onsite training and education
Consider
throughout /
generic
Identify and target top five waste products
Optimise use of waste brokerage scheme
The following actions have been developed in conjunction
with our suppliers and should be implemented as part of all
MS construction projects. Use the action plan checklist to
make sure that these are considered at the most appropriate
stage of the construction process.
Policy and procurement - related actions
Design-related actions
Site-related actions
Sharing knowledge - actions
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 11
12. Policy and
procurement -
related actions
Set waste reduction targets: These are set out as best
practice benchmarks to use as a default for every project.
Note there may be specific issues in some projects that
cause higher amounts of waste to be produced. A revision
of the target may be considered in these instances.
MS lead: Design and Delivery Support
Measure of success: Achieving the tonnes waste / £100K
project value target
Adoption of BIM: BIM should be considered to reduce
costs, waste and rework. Case studies should be
developed where possible to demonstrate any savings
made.
MS lead: Design and Delivery Support
Measure of success: BIM used on projects
6. http://www.wrapni.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Leeds_Arena_FINAL.pdf
Achieving resource
efficiency through BIM,
Leeds Arena, West
Yorkshire6
BIM was used by BAM
Construction in the design
and construction of the
new Leeds Arena to improve
efficiency throughout the
project. Key achievements
as a result of using BIM
included:
• Faster design procedure
with less waste
• Creation of a 3D model
- reduced requirement for
approximately 9,000 paper
drawings
• Improved communication
across the supply chain -
saved over 15,000 working
hours
• Improved clash detection
- estimated savings of over
£300K
• 8% less materials used
• Safer working environment
• Reduced transport miles
through journey planning
and virtual meetings - saved
60,000 miles or 20 tonnes
CO2
emissions.
Case Study
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 12
13. Ask suppliers to take back surplus / off-cuts: As part
of extended producer responsibility, those who supply a
product that creates installation waste should be
encouraged to take this back wherever possible. Return
haulage when delivering new product will also reduce
transport impacts. Explore options to have products
delivered that are pre-cut to dimensions required.
MS lead: Procurement and Supply Team and Main
Contractors / Suppliers
Measure of success: Amount of surplus / off-cuts reused
Make suppliers responsible for their packaging: As part
of extended producer responsibility, those who supply
products with packaging should be encouraged to use
returnable packaging systems wherever possible, e.g.
multi-trip pallets that make use of return haulage when
delivering new product.
MS lead: Procurement and Supply Team
Measure of success: Amount of packaging returned
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 13
14. Design-related actions
Standardise components
and offsite / modular
build opportunities:
This can reduce costs,
defects, waste and
time on site. Examples
of projects where
standardisation has been
used, include Meole Brace
Food Hall (pictured).
MS lead: Design and
Delivery Support
Measure of success:
Percentage of build
standardised and / or
using offsite fabricated
elements
Off-site construction,
Meole Brace
Simons focused on an off-
site solution for the delivery
of a Food Hall at Meole
Brace. Simons provided a
robust pre construction
programme which respected
design sign off milestones
for the modular wall and
ceiling construction along
with integrating services
within them.
The project meant that
coordination issues on site
were limited and less trades
were needed to deliver the
solution, there was also a
notable improvement in the
site environment regarding
dust levels and materials
waste which assisted the
cleaning process prior to
handover. The programme
was reduced from 7 to 5
weeks, meaning the store
benefited from an additional
2 weeks of trading.
Case Study Consider durability and
service life issues: A whole
life costing approach could
flag up cost and resource
reductions over a set time
period. For example, using
more durable floor finishes
may cost more initially
but be more cost efficient
if able to be retained for
a greater length of time.
Ease / flexibility of refresh
should be considered
when incorporating new
products and materials.
MS lead: Property Group
Measure of success:
Evidence of whole life
cost evaluation
In terms of waste
minimisation the key
highlights were:
- 33% reduction in tonnes of
waste / £100k
- 18% reduction in t / 100m2
- 4% reduction in waste per
week
- £1,000 saving by
elimination of plasterboard
waste
- 90% reduction in wastage
of high value materials
(cable, duct and first fix
ME materials).
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 14
15. Dematerialisation techniques applied: Can less material
be used if the design is amended? For example, exposed
ceilings rather than suspended ceiling tiles can deliver
net savings of £18/m2
as well as using less material and
creating less waste.7
MS lead: Design and Delivery Support
Measure of success: Meeting notes from scheme review
meetings
Using less materials,
Various Stores
Examples of key design
changes that have enabled
less materials to be used
during construction include:
- Ply walls in the stock room
at Ecclesall Road - this
replaced a typical ply-
backed plasterboard wall
with chequer plate, reducing
the number of layers
required, whilst maintaining
the required durability and
suitability for fixing.
Case Study
7. Design detailing for materials resource efficiency, WRAP 2010
Early design freeze and minimum changes: Although
it can be difficult to guarantee that there will be no
design changes later in a project, the waste implications
of any changes should always be considered against the
identified benefits.
MS lead: Strategic Programme Office
Measure of success: Zero design changes after SAM 3
Related guides or procedures: Project team handbook
- At Malone, Belfast BIM
was used to good effect
to establish that we could
retain the previous occupiers
(Co-op) mezzanine, rather
than demolish it and
build our own. This saved
significant waste arisings.
Secondly we decided to
retain the Co-op’s terrazo
floor, as opposed to laying
vinyl over the top of it -
saving cost and waste.
- Looking forward we want to
successfully trial a polished
concrete floor in a Food Hall,
which would mean we would
not have to lay a vinyl floor.
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 15
16. Site-related actions
Prepare a materials logistics plan: This can be
particularly effective on projects with time and space
constraints as it can help schedule the arrival of materials,
return of offcuts / packaging to suppliers and consolidate
resources for other uses, e.g. community reuse.
MS lead: Construction Delivery Team
Measure of success: Logistics plan prepared
Consider community reuse: Our waste broker is able
to provide suitable containers and find out if there is
an appropriate reuse scheme near your project. See
the Finding community reuse projects box for more
information on the types of products that can be reused
via this route. Note: levels of reuse should be recorded via
the SmartER Portal.
MS lead: Construction Delivery Team
Measure of success: Tonnes and type of products
donated to community reuse schemes
Related guides or procedures: SmartER Portal
Community reuse of
materials, Recipro
Academy, Stoke,
Staffordshire
Materials redistributed
during construction of
the Recipro Academy in
Stoke included insulation,
doors and windows,
timber and canteen tables.
Community projects that
benefited included a local
gym, homeless project,
regeneration project, training
facility and youth music
project. Other benefits
included:
• Almost 1 tonne of waste
reduced
• Over 1.2 tonnes of CO2
savings
• Cost savings of around
£6,500 for local community
groups.
Case Study
Community reuse of
materials, MS Cheshire
Oaks, Cheshire
There were 14 different
materials and waste types
segregated and contained
on this project within a
monitored central waste
collection compound.
Waste was reduced by
salvaging materials and
packaging before it was
treated as waste so that this
could be distributed to local
charities and individuals.
This was advertised through
Recipro and via social media
websites for collection at the
site gate.
Around 126 tonnes of
material was diverted from
the waste stream in this way,
including plant pots, pallets,
plywood, cable drums and
timber sections. Recipients
including scout huts, stables
and animal sanctuaries, and
local families sent in photos
and stories about what they
Case Study
had used the items for. This
activity raised the profile of
MS in the neighbourhood
and paved the way for
ongoing social and
community liaison.
A significant number
of timber offcuts and
hoardings were converted
into useful items such as
birdboxes and bee houses
that were assembled by
local children. Glulam offcuts
were used to make outdoor
furniture for children’s play
areas.
The Main Contractor/
Developer, Simons Group,
appointed a Plan A
Champion with the sole
responsibility of managing
the environmental impact of
construction works onsite.
The role encompassed
waste minimisation,
ecology protection,
timber management and
community liaison (including
limiting pollution, noise
and disruption to the local
community).
Local search
• Look for your local
community resource or
recycling network, e.g.
London link – lcrn.org.uk
• Talk to local schools,
colleges and other
associations
• Contact Scrapstores UK –
scrapstoresuk.org.
Product-based search
• Timber:
communitywoodrecycling.
org.uk
• Paint:
communityrepaint.org.uk
• Furniture: frn.org.uk
• Compost:
communitycompost.org.
Finding community
reuse projects
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 16
17. Appoint waste champions on each project: Waste
champions must be appointed on projects over £6 million
and they can also be appointed on projects of lower
value. The role of the waste champion is to look for waste
reduction opportunities throughout the project, identify
and use incentives appropriately, and report on actions that
could be adopted to drive out waste.
MS lead: Construction Delivery Team
Measure of success: Incentives earned
Optimise use of waste brokerage scheme: The appointed
waste broker for the project is tasked with processing all
waste information and reporting to the SmartER Portal.
Waste reduction should also be encouraged through the
support of community reuse schemes. An annual review
of the waste broker’s service level agreement and pricing
structure should be carried out by the Cost Management
team supported by the Plan A team.
Annual compliance assurance must be carried out to ensure
that all MS waste is being diverted from landfill.
MS lead: Plan A Team
Measure of success: Reduction of waste reported
Related guides or procedures: SmartER Portal
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 17
18. Sharing knowledge -
actions
Identify and target top five waste products: The Main
Contractor should identify specific waste products where
possible and avoid describing this as simply ‘mixed waste’. It
is important to liase with the waste broker and log all waste
data in the SmartER Portal. See page 19 for the top five
waste products identified by MS Main Contractors in store
construction projects.
MS lead: Plan A Team
Measure of success: Top five waste products identified
and actions set
Related guides or procedures: SmartER Portal
Onsite training and education: Whilst no longer required
as part of SWMP regulation we recommend this is
undertaken and logged in line with these requirements.
This includes toolbox talks that may need to be adapted
to ensure that waste reduction is seen as a priority by all
those working on the project.
MS lead: Construction Delivery Team
Measure of success: Evidence of onsite training
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 18
19. Store Modernisation and
Initiative construction
projects
• Plastic packaging
• Timber pallets and
packaging
• Plasterboard off-cuts
• Metal off-cuts
• Flooring and tiling off-cuts.
Development projects
• Excavation material
• Inert product waste
• Inert mass waste, e.g. ready
set mixed concrete
• Insulation
• Composite off-cuts.
Top five waste
products by weight
as identified by MS
Main Contractors
Packaging
Use returnable packaging,
such as pallets. The Pallet
Repatriation Accord has
been signed by various
suppliers to promote the
use of multi-trip pallets.
In 2011, reverse logistics
specialist, Scott ELM,
recovered in excess of one
million reusable pallets
from building sites, builders
Waste minimisation:
tips and links to
further guidance
for top five waste
streams
merchant branches, DIY
retail outlets and contractors
nationally. Most MS
suppliers use returnable
pallets, and any cardboard
or plastic film should be
recycled via on-site baling
facilities wherever available.
Plasterboard
The Plasterboard
Sustainability Partnership
(PSP) has set out actions
to reduce waste arising and
divert waste from landfill.
One of these actions
relates to developing
detailed guidance and
training material to reduce
plasterboard waste during
installation / at the design
stage, and encouraging
the adoption of innovative
systems that reduce waste.
Further guidance is available
from the Federation of
Plastering and Drywall
Contractors (FPDC) and
the Association of Interior
Specialists (AIS).
Flooring
The Flooring Sustainability
Partnership (FSP) has set
out actions to reduce waste
arising and divert waste from
landfill.
One key area of activity
is the Carpet Tile Reuse
Network, which was
responsible for the reuse of
over 800,000 tiles in 2011.
Other flooring types are
also represented within the
FSP, namely resilient flooring
(such as vinyl flooring),
hard flooring and resin
flooring. Any unavoidable
vinyl flooring waste can be
recycled using a industry
scheme ‘Recofloor.’
Insulation
The Building Insulation
Foam Resource Efficiency
Partnership (BIFREP)
launched its action plan
in 2013 which advises on
diverting waste form landfill
and reducing waste overall.
Guidance is also available to
reduce waste minimisation
for designers and installers
working with building
insulation foam.
Timber
The Timber Resource
Efficiency Partnership
(TREP) is a joint initiative
between key timber trade
associations and leading
companies across the
industry. To help reduce
timber waste, the British
Woodworking Federation
(BWF) provides e-learning
modules and resource
efficiency workshops for its
members.
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 19
20. Looking forward
A key feature of the circular
economy is designing for
reuse and recovery. This
extends the life cycle of
goods which are intended
to never enter the waste
stream.
In construction, recycled
products often end up
being low grade goods
such as construction fill and
therefore reach the end of
their life cycle after only
being recycled once. Though
being a preferable option
to landfill, if products were
We will measure progress
continuously at project
level by tracking the data
we collect against best and
exemplary performance
benchmarks. Our aim is to
publish this information and
provide greater transparency
in waste pricing from our
suppliers. We will expect
waste tender costs to be
aligned to the best practice
performance indicators.
By continuing to measure
and reduce our waste, we
want to readdress the way
we think about resource
efficiency. We want to move
to a more circular way of
thinking.
Source: Image courtesy of BAM Construct UK
Circular economy
Going forward
Looking forward
designed for deconstruction
then they could be reused in
their original form over and
over again. Meole Brace is
the start of this journey for
MS.
This would uphold our
quality whilst saving money
and resources which would
otherwise be spent on
reprocessing into new
products.
Furthermore, business
models for construction
also play a part in the move
to a circular economy. If
buildings were long term
leased for their components,
not only their space, then
manufacturers would have a
greater incentive to recover
the goods.
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 20
21. Glossary
Building Information
Modelling
A process of designing,
constructing or operating
a building or infrastructure
asset using electronic
object-oriented information.
What this means in practice
is that a building can be
assembled as a kit of parts
via computer, before it is
built for real.
BRE Environmental
Assessment Method
BREEAM is an environmental
assessment method
and rating system for
construction projects, with
536,300 buildings BREEAM
certified and over 2 million
registered for assessment
since it was first launched in
1990.
CE Marking
CE Marking on a product is a
manufacturer’s declaration
that the product complies
with the essential
requirements of the relevant
European health, safety and
environmental protection
legislation.
Community reuse scheme
Typically a social enterprise
charity supporting
organisations and
communities working
to manage resources
sustainably, especially
through waste prevention,
reuse and recycling.
Construction Products
Regulation (CPR)
The Construction Products
Regulation (CPR) sets out
harmonised conditions
for the marketing of
construction products within
the EU and clarifies the
concept and use of
CE Marking.
Dematerialisation
Literally means the use
of less materials. In
practice this could be
through the elimination of
components or finishes, or
re-engineering to reduce
material requirements
whilst retaining required
performance.
Design for deconstruction
Where a material’s capacity
to be reused or recycled
when no longer required is
considered throughout the
design stage of a project.
Impacts on the specification
of materials in order to
reduce demolition waste.
Embodied (or embedded)
carbon
Also known as embodied
energy, this refers to the
quantity of carbon (and
other greenhouse gases)
produced by all of the
activities associated with a
production process including
extraction, transportation
and disposal.
EU Waste Framework
Directive
The EU Waste Framework
Directive provides the
legislative framework for
the collection, transport,
recovery and disposal
of waste, and includes a
common definition of waste.
Prefabrication
In buildings, this means to
manufacture in standardised
parts or sections ready for
quick assembly and erection.
Recycled content
Refers to the percentage or
weight of recycled materials
in a product.
Resource efficiency action
plan (REAP)
A REAP identifies
opportunities for a range
of construction materials
and products to improve
resource efficiency.
Site waste management
plan (SWMP)
SWMP’s encourage better
waste management
practices, improves
environmental performance
and reduces the cost of
waste disposal and waste
crime such as fly-tipping.
SmartER Portal
A new waste management
reporting tool based on
SMARTWaste principles.
SMARTWaste
A web-based tool developed
by BRE for managing
all aspects of preparing,
implementing and reviewing
Site Waste Management
Plans.
Waste brokerage scheme
Any business or person that
arranges for someone else’s
waste to be collected and
disposed of or recycled.
Requires registration via the
Environment Agency.
Waste champion
A representative within an
organisation, often site-
based, who co-ordinates and
actively promotes resource
efficiency.
Waste minimisation
Using less material in design,
manufacture and installation,
keeping products for longer
and using less hazardous
materials. Reusing products
for the same purpose for
which they were conceived
(may require checking,
cleaning or repairing /
preparing for reuse).
Whole life cost (WLC) or
life cycle costing (LCC)
A technique used to
establish the total cost of
ownership and help identify
best value over a lifetime
for comparable services
or products. Addresses all
cost elements to produce a
spend profile of a product or
service over its anticipated
lifespan.
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 21
22. SMARTWaste Input Guidelines for Contractors
1
5 6 7 8
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Project value
Project value is the sum of
the direct purchase value
and the contractor value.
Description of project
Type of work, extra details.
For example, ‘Small works,
replacing tills’.
Gross internal floor area
Area in which the work is
taking place.
Total site area
This includes outside
areas and is relevant to
development projects.
1
Project reference
MS project reference made
up of six digits, 3 letters,
3 numbers, for example
COF001.
2
Project name
Store name, contractor
name, start date. For
example, ‘Cheshire Oaks,
Simons Group, 21/11/11’.
3
Project start date
Date work starts on site.
4
Project end date
Date of practical completion
to be updated if programme
changes.
Appendix
Waste Minimisation GuideProperty Plan A 22
