Cornwall targets building firms to relieve “waste crisis”

The problem of trade waste from the construction and demolition industry is being seen as a major part of Cornwall's “waste crisis” resulting from a severe shortage of landfill space.

Cornwall's Local Authority Waste Disposal Company, County Environmental Services, stopped taking trade waste at its United Mines landfill site in November 2003 (see letsrecycle.com story). Setbacks in the planning process for extensions to the facility meant that the site is now due to run out of available space later this year.

Companies with trade waste to deposit have been forced to take a 100-mile round trip to the other CES landfill near Liskeard, or the company's transfer station in Pool.

The council is hoping to “brainstorm” with local contractors today to find a way to relieve pressure on the county's landfills prior to a new PFI-backed 25-year waste management contract that should begin in 2005.

Influence
Construction waste amounts to around four times the amount of waste collected from households in the UK. Cornwall county council is hoping to use its influence as a major commissioner of new buildings to press for a less wasteful approach by the construction sector.

Bert Biscoe, executive member for buildings and construction, said: “There is much we can do to encourage builders and demolition companies to reduce their transport and disposal costs by maximising the use of recycled and locally-sourced building materials.”

Waste Neutralisation
The Eden Project is supporting the council in the new approach on construction waste, having already championed the concept of “waste neutralisation” on its own site through the recycling of catering and packaging waste.

Chris Hines, sustainability project manager at the Eden Project, said: “Waste neutral means empty dustbins, less skips and less lorries on the roads carrying waste.

“We hope that, by going to the heart of one of the worst waste problems and working closely with building contractors, Eden and Cornwall county council can work on good examples of minimising waste – and sometimes saving money, too – within the construction industry,” he added.