“Research undertaken by WRAP shows that tackling construction waste can reduce project costs by 0.2% to 2% of construction value, varying by project type,” said David Moon, Programme Manager Clients and Policy, WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).

Produced by WRAP, the NHS Sustainable Development Unit and the Department of Health, 'Cutting the costs of waste in NHS construction' is free and deals with both refurbishment and maintenance work, as well as new builds.

Other public sector organisations could also benefit from this advice.

The guidance explains how to talk to design teams and contractors to reduce waste at every stage of a building project; from procurement and design through construction and general waste management.

It gives clear template wording that can be used to inform project teams of outcome requirements for waste.

What makes it specific to the NHS is that the recommendations can be embedded within an NHS Sustainable Development Management Plan (SDMP), guidance for which states that “All buildings should move quickly to have a significantly lower carbon impact, not just in their construction but also in their lifetime use and in their decommissioning. In their design, new builds should encourage a broader approach to sustainability, including transport and delivery of services.”

It is divided into two parts. The first explains the business case for taking action and how, as a client, each NHS Trust can drive improvements by asking project teams to identify and adopt the top cost-saving actions. The second section provides model wording to incorporate these requirements in key Trust documentation, allowing easy implementation.

The guide will also aid in the drafting of Estate Management Plans and in tender and contract documents. The following key waste management strategies can be specified:

  • implementation of a Site Waste Management Plan that sets specific waste targets;
  • measuring and reporting progress against the corporate key performance indicators for waste and waste to landfill;
  • reducing waste generation and reporting the tonnes of waste generated per £100k construction value;
  • recovering a minimum percentage of construction materials, and aiming to exceed this; and
  • ensuring that an agreed percentage of total material value derives from reused and recycled content in new build, and report actual performance.

WRAP has also produced dedicated guidance and tools for architects to help remove waste from construction projects at the drawing board. 'Designing out Waste: a design team guide for buildings'  [http://tinyurl.com/29e6ypy] can be used on NHS building projects.

The waste reduction organisation launched 'Construction Commitments: Halving Waste to Landfill' [http://tinyurl.com/2a7umsn] in October 2008, since when over 436 organisations have signed this voluntary agreement to reduce the amount of construction, demolition and excavation waste (CD&E) sent to landfill by fifty percent, by 2012.

>http://tinyurl.com/247we5q