Bid to cut waste from Thames Gateway building programmes

The area east of the capital is the site of one of the biggest regeneration programmes in the world, and along with the preparations for the London Olympics, is expected to generate millions of tonnes of waste.

WRAP hopes to reduce the waste footprint of massive building projects like the preparations for the 2012 Olympics in London

WRAP – the Waste and Resources Action Programme – is aiming to discuss ways to reduce this waste later this month at the Thames Gateway Forum, the annual meeting for all those involved in the regeneration of the region.

As well as addressing the environment impact of the Thames Gateway construction activities, WRAP is also hoping that the project could act as a “global showcase” for best practice in how materials can be used efficiently in construction.

Dr Mike Watson, WRAP's head of construction, said: “With construction starting on facilities for the 2012 Olympics, and the regeneration of urban areas along the 40 miles of the Thames Gateway underway, the management of material resources and waste in construction must be effective if we are serious about delivering sustainability.”

“If every regeneration project in the Thames Gateway adopted best practice in materials efficiency, it would greatly reduce the environmental impact,” he said.

Awareness
In the UK as a whole, the construction industry uses 400 million tonnes of building materials every year, and is one of the biggest users of materials in the country.

At the Forum event at London Excel on November 22 and 23, WRAP wants to raise awareness among agencies setting specifications for Thames Gateway building projects, and will highlight tactics, tools and guidance available to reduce waste going to landfill and encourage the use of recycled materials.

“There are compelling operational and commercial reasons to ensure you, as a client or contractor, are delivering best practice in materials efficiency,” Dr Watson said.

“The scale of the Thames Gateway development presents a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate that, as an industry, real progress is being made in a key area of sustainability,” he added.