Recycled content in construction of education facilities

8 December 2006XXXXXXXXXX

Outline

About WRAP Materials resource efficiency in construction Case studies WRAP resources Discussion – Q&A

Reduce raw

material use

Reduce waste

Materials efficiency

Reduce landfill

Recycling / compostingSave

resources

Materials with recycled content

A two thirds reduction in consumption of fossil fuels and virgin materials is needed to achieve a sustainable and globally equitable level

WWF – “One planet living study” - 2004

WRAP’s construction focus

construction waste minimisation and management

construction materials recycling

construction procurement (RC requirements)

“Helping the construction industry cut costs and increase efficiency through the better use of materials”

M tonnes

Quantity of construction and demolition waste generated (~90 Mt per year)

Waste construction materials that are recycled (~45 Mt per year)

Materials efficiency in construction

Overall material consumption by construction industry (~420 Mt per year)

M tonnes

Quantity of construction and demolition waste generated (~90 Mt per year)

Waste construction materials that are recycled (~45 Mt per year)

Materials efficiency in construction

Materials Efficiency as part of Sustainable Construction Sustainability goals

Energy Materials Water

Waste avoidance and minimisation

Segregation and recycling

Returning surplus materials

Specification of materials with low enviro. impact

Use products with high recycled content

Using local construction and demolition waste

Material selection

Waste managemen

t

Min

imis

ing

en

vir

on

men

tal

dam

ag

e

Effi

cie

nt

use o

f fi

nit

e

natu

ral

mate

rials

Use renewable materials from sustainable sources

Why require recycled content?

Practical way of making a difference

Cost neutral with potential for cost saving

Simple way of measuring achievement

Setting procurement requirements delivers tangible benefits cost neutral with the potential for cost saving

reduces burden on landfill sites

stimulates market for recovered materials

reduces demand for finite natural resources

reduces carbon emissions

Scottish ExecutivePolicy Commitment

2003 2004 2005 2006

OGC-AE11SBTG

Govt. Sustainable Procurement Group

ODPM-PPS1

Code for Sustainable Homes

EU Landfill Directive and UK Landfill Tax (1990s)

Increasing thrust of sustainability policy

Scottish ExecutiveMinister’s letter

Secure & Sustainable Buildings Act

NI Central Procurement Directorate

Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act

Aggregate Levy

Sustainable Procurement Task Force

Policy drivers

2007

Embedded in public policy Scottish ExecutiveMinister for Environment & Rural Development has written to all public

sector bodies requesting contracts to include requirements for RC in

constructionprojects and procurement of printing, writing paper and tissue products

Partnership for a Better ScotlandThe Partnership Agreement contains a commitment to:“use the public purchasing rules to enhance the status of recycled goods

andthose capable of reuse”

A number of public bodies in Scotland have already set RC requirements, including: Glasgow City Council (as a policy for all its major construction

projects) Aberdeen City Council (schools project) Raploch Urban Regeneration Company Dundee City Council (waste infrastructure project) South Ayrshire Council (schools project)

Tota

l p

roje

ct

mate

rials

cost

(£)

Recycled content (%)

A cost neutral opportunity

Best

Standard

Good

Which of these products contain recycled content?

>50%

100%>80%

Lightweight block Plasterboard

Glasswool Aggregates

84%

Which concrete block has the highest recycled content?

>50%

>25% ~5%

~55%

Examples of mainstream products

Product type

Optionwith lower

recycled content

Option with higher recycled content

Dense block 0%Hanson Conbloc

Up to 70%

Wall insulation 0%Superglass Superwall Cavity Slab

>80%

Concrete roof tile 0%Lafarge – various, e.g. Grovebury

17%

Ceiling tiles >10%Armstrong – various

28-52%

Intermediate floors,e.g. timber

50-70%Sonae – Sonaefloor

90-95%

Floor coverings – safety

0%BSW Regupol Everroll rubber

flooring80%

Cost and performance

mainstream products familiar manufacturers products already in use readily available reassuring to trades

www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/Construction_product_guide_Version_2.efcacd0c.pdf

Case study – Primary school

Glasgow, 2004

Opportunities to increase recycled content:

plasterboard concrete paving slabs fencing flooring pipe bedding insulation ceiling tiles concrete kerb stones lightweight block.

Use of recycled content (as a % of total value of materials):

standard practice: 20% achievable with top three

product substitutions: 24% good practice at no extra

project cost: 27%

Queens University, 2006

Opportunities to increase recycled content:

dense block work carpet tiles low strength concrete hardcore plasterboard.

Use of recycled content (as a % of total value of materials):

base case: 15% readily achievable

at equivalent cost: 25% maximum achievable but at

extra cost: 37%

Case study – University Halls of Residence

London, 2005

Detailed analysis of three exemplar school designs

Potential for a ten-fold increase in the use of recovered materials, potentially diverting an additional 3,000-4,000 tonnes from landfill for each school.

Case study – Exemplar designs of secondary schools

Use of recycled content (as a % of total value of materials):

standard practice: 13 to 16%

good practice at no extra project cost: 16 to 21%

A 10% minimum requirement is readily achievable

Type of projectBaseline/actual

practiceCost neutral

good practice

Detached/terraced house

6 - 26% 16 - 29%

Commercial office 10* - 22% 12* - 30%

School, hospital 12* - 20% 15* - 27%

Road reconstruction 8 - 16% 27 - 29%

Bridge reconstruction

18 - 23% 33 - 49%

* Excluding building services

Who is taking action?Glasgow City CouncilAberdeen City CouncilDundee City CouncilNewcastle City CouncilSolihull MBCSheffield City CouncilBritish LandBristol City CouncilWelsh Health EstatesGreater London AuthorityNorthern Ireland Procurement DirectorateDefence Estates Lancashire County CouncilBuilding Schools for the Future (BSF)National GridRaploch Urban Regeneration CompanySkanskaScottish ExecutiveNOMSLeeds Metropolitan University

…and many more

Taking action - EducationBuilding Schools for the Future minimum threshold for

recycled content in model Output Specification

Bradford University minimum recycled content

requirement in refurbishment programme

Leeds Metropolitan University corporate policy for minimum

requirement for new buildings

Recommended wording

‘….at least 10% of the total value of materials used should derive from recycled and reused content in the products and materials selected. 

In addition, show that the most significant opportunities to increase the value of materials derived from recycled and reused content have been considered, such as the top ten Quick Wins or equivalent, and implement good practice where technically and commercially viable.’

Client sets requirement

e.g. “10% recycled content by value plus evidence of good

practice”

Design team estimates baseline

e.g. X% as baseline practice and identify candidate top 5-10 Quick

Wins

Estimate the projected outcome

X% baseline practice plus Y% contribution from selected Quick

Wins(Design team and contractor)

Implement the Quick Wins

Contractor and subcontractors

Verification

Client can check for simple evidence that Quick Wins were

used

Potential for local re-use and recycling of

materials from on-site CDW and nearby

demolition

Available manufactured

products with higher recycled content, plus

reclaimed products

Contractor selects Quick Wins, consulting

with suppliers, subcontractors, design

team and client where necessary

Review of Quick Wins

Selection of Quick Wins

Identifying higherrecycled content opportunities

PROCESS MAP

Support availableWRAP have prepared a comprehensive

support package covering:

– exemplar wording for pre-qualification questionnaires, briefs and contracts.

– on-line recycled content toolkits for calculating performance and opportunities.

– reference guides identifying specific products with higher levels of recycled content.

– case studies covering all types of construction.

www.wrap.org.uk/construction/construction_procurement/index.html

The recycled content toolkit calculates the recycled content

baseline identifies the largest Quick Win

opportunities, using information on:– basic dimensions– key design specifications

provides pre-formatted performance reports.

Summary increasing recycled content has a tangible impact on resource

efficiency

setting a requirement is easy to do

no impact on: – cost– design or specification– quality– other project goals

WRAP support for:– policy and project wording– calculating recycled content– identifying products

a quantifiable, demonstrable contribution to a sustainability or CSR strategy.