Why Halving Waste to Landfill?
The construction industry is responsible for some 120 million tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation waste (CDEW) every year – around one third of all waste in the UK. An estimated 25 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.
Halving Waste to Landfill by 2012 also supports the Scottish Government’s Zero Waste Scotland policy and construction waste reduction policies in Wales Waste Strategy and Northern Ireland Waste Strategy
