The cover of BERRs Strategy for Sustainable Construction.

Strategy for Sustainable Construction 2008

Why Halving Waste to Landfill?

The construction industry is responsible for some 100 million tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation waste (CDEW) every year – around one third of all waste in the UK. Almost 20 million tonnes of this waste ends up in landfill without any form of recovery or reuse.

Policy Drivers

Recognising the environmental and economic impacts of these levels of wastage and landfilling of material resources, the Government Strategy for Sustainable Construction has established the following overarching target for construction waste in England:

By 2012, a 50% reduction in construction, demolition and excavation waste to landfill compared to 2008.

The Strategic Forum for Construction’s Construction Commitments have adopted this target for the UK construction industry and established the 2008 baseline and methodology for measuring construction, demolition and excavation waste to landfill in England. Halving Waste to Landfill by 2012 also supports the Scottish Government’s Zero Waste Strategy and construction waste reduction policies in the Wales Waste Strategy and Northern Ireland Waste Strategy.

Strategic Forum for Construction: Halving waste to landfill in England

The 2008 baseline and associated methodology were developed and launched by the Strategic Forum's Waste subgroup in June 2010. The Strategic Forum have also published a Waste Action Plan that is complementary to the actions being undertaken by signatories to WRAP's Halving Waste to Landfill Commitment.

CD&E waste arisings, use and disposal

An analysis of existing data, supplemented by original survey research, to provide estimates for the levels of arisings, use and disposal of the full range of CD&E wastes in England in 2008. CD&E waste arisings, use and disposal for England 2008 (5645 kb)