Welsh industries on track to meet recycling targets

According to the latest Natural Resources Wales (NRW) waste surveys, the construction and demolition (C&D) industries recycled, recovered or prepared for reuse 87% of the 3.4 million tonnes of waste generated in 2012.

The results just short of the Welsh Governments 90% recycling target for 2019/20 were collected from NRWs survey of 457 C&D business sites in Wales.

Meanwhile, the recycling rate in the Welsh commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors was 58% from 3.7 million tonnes of waste, NRWs survey of 1,540 C&I businesses throughout Wales found. This is against a recycling, reuse and recovery target of 70% by 2024/25.

Construction and demolition

Within the C&D industry, the civil engineering sector generated the most waste in 2012 (47%), followed by construction (41%), general building (7%) and demolition (4%), NRWs C&D waste survey found. In terms of material types, the majority of C&D waste generated consisted of soils (46%) and aggregates (37%), followed by mixed site waste (10%) and wood waste (3%).

The Welsh Governments Waste Prevention Programme, launched at the end of last year, sets out a target of a 1.4% reduction for construction and demolition waste treated off-site every year to 2050, based on a 2006/7 baseline.

Minister for Natural Resources and Food, Alun Davies, said: It is really encouraging to see the construction and demolition industry treating waste as a resource, and showing that our recycling targets are achievable.

However, preventing waste in the first place can save money. Preventing over ordering and preventing damage to construction products in transit are two obvious examples of how businesses can benefit.

Commercial and industrial

NRW also published results of its Commercial Waste Survey, which found that the commercial sector alone sent 26% of waste for landfill in 2012, with 68% prepared for reuse, recycled or composted. According to the Welsh Government, this shows a significant increase on the 37% rate in the previous 2007 survey.

In the industrial sector, the reuse, recycling and composting rate in 2012 was 50%, with 27% sent to landfill. Excluding the energy sector, however, this rate was 62%, with 7% sent to landfill.

Combined together, the overall commercial and industrial recycling, reuse and recovery rate in 2012 was 58%. The majority (55%) of this waste was generated by the industrial sector, with the remainder commercial waste.

Mr Davies added: These results from 2012 demonstrate that there is still much we can do to prevent waste going to landfill in Wales, but the construction, demolition and commercial sector results in particular make it clear that high recycling rates are achievable, as we move towards a circular economy in Wales.

Food and drink manufacturing is a great example of a sector with the potential to make savings and become more competitive by preventing waste.

Previous Welsh C&I surveys have been carried out for wastes generated in 1998/99, 2002/03 and 2007. A C&D survey was carried out in 2005/06.

Emyr Roberts, chief executive of NRW, said: Businesses know that the key to economic sustainability is keeping costs down and better management of resources, and waste is no exception.

The results from these surveys are encouraging in part but there is an opportunity to do more. This is why we are committed to working with businesses to support them to reduce and manage their waste appropriately to benefit the environment and the economy.