Planners and architects would benefit from green procurement

The market development agency highlighted the potential benefits to the construction and landscaping industries at a conference last week, ‘Using recycled materials in landscaping, paving and highways applications’.

Architects and planners are often unwilling to use recycled materials in buildings because of doubts concerning quality and durability over the decades and centuries that construction projects are designed to last.

But the Clean Merseyside Centre, a venture backed by the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, said that many high quality construction and landscaping products are available at the right price and quantity.

Dr Helen de Lemos, Clean Merseyside Centre manager, explained: “Urban planners and landscape architects could make a significant impact on the recycling market by incorporating recycled materials in their construction plans. The recycling market is growing fast and is already valued at 12 billion a year. The technology and products are available and what is needed now is large scale backing from those involved in shaping and developing our urban areas.”

Uses
As well as the use of recycled aggregates in building, the Centre pointed out that recycled glass can be used in road building, paving, water filtration, shot blasting and pre-cast concrete production. Recycled plastic can be used to produce fencing, outdoor furniture, bollards, boardwalks and railings, while green waste compost is ideal for landscaping, sports pitches and in horticulture.

Dr de Lemos said: “Many developers talk about sustainable regeneration but this rarely transpires into the use of sustainable construction materials. Recycled materials also have added benefits. They are often highly durable, cost effective and provide a unique selling point to customers and clients.”

Using recycled materials would also drive the process of recycling waste from the construction process, architects and planners were told. Construction alone accounts for 40% of the total flow of raw materials in the global economy each year, some 3 billion tonnes, and in the UK, the construction industry generates 72 million tonnes of waste each year – 17% of total UK waste. Another benefit of using more recycled materials in construction projects is that it is likely to make it easier to secure planning permission. Planning inspectors often look upon projects more favourably if they have a more sustainable outlook.

The Clean Merseyside Centre provides free support to companies looking to make a substantial impact on recycling rates on Merseyside, supporting companies at each stage of the process from collection and supply to reprocessing, manufacture and marketing of the end product.