Studies into the net benefits of taking action to reduce construction waste show that projects can save up to 1.5% of construction value. On individual trade packages the savings can be as high as 9.5%.
Residential
- Houses (20, masonry construction) The project consists of 20 new build masonry houses, with a combined construction value of £1m.
- Houses (20, timber-framed) The project consists of 20 new build timber-framed houses, with a construction value of £1.36m.
- Residential block (concrete-framed) The project is a £7.1m new-build block of flats containing 61 units.
- Halls of residence (steel-framed) The project is a ~£9.8m new build halls of residence containing 286 bedrooms over 4 storeys.
- Single Living Accommodation Modernisation (SLAM) The project is a new build four-storey T-shaped block, £3.2m construction cost, to house up to 72 personnel. The construction is based on pre-assembled modular units.
- Social housing refurbishment This analysis is based upon a stock of 100 dwellings requiring a total capital investment of £1.5m to reach the required standard.
Public
- Hospital (in-situ concrete-framed) The project is a ~£178m new build hospital, to be constructed using an in-situ concrete frame with steel roof structures for plant rooms.
- Health Centre CBA Case Study The project is a ~£7m new build health centre, to be constructed using a steel frame structure.
- Primary school (steel-framed) The project is a £1.5m new build primary school with a floor area of 1,500m2.
- Primary school (timber-framed) The project is a ~£4.3m new primary school development with a floor area of 2,750m2
- Secondary school (steel-framed) The project is a ~£22.5m redevelopment of an existing secondary school.
- Prison (pre-cast concrete-framed) The project is a ~£4.9m new build segregation unit incorporating 27 cells, to be constructed from pre-cast concrete.
- Waste Composting Facility This project is the construction of a new build composting facility. All structures have a steel frame with steel roof.
- Integrated Waste Management Facility This project is a new build construction, c. £3.2m. All structures have a steel frame with steel roof.
Commercial
- Supermarket (steel-framed) The project is a ~£3.8m new build supermarket, to be constructed using concrete foundations and a steel frame.
- Distribution centre (steel-framed) The project is a ~£11m new build warehouse, incorporating shed, office and external works.
- Office new build (concrete-framed) The project is a ~£23m new build 3 storey office with plant room and lower ground floor parking.
- Small office refurbishment (Cat A) This project is the refurbishment of one floor (2,100m2) of office space, costing £1.4m.
- Large office refurbishment (Cat B) This project includes the strip-out of existing fixtures in a 9,000m2 office, at a cost of £3.25m.
- Small retail refurbishment This project is a £1.4m strip out of a 1,280m2 retail unit in a larger shopping complex, and reconfiguration of the unit into smaller units in preparation for tenant fit-out.
Trade packages
- Brick block trade package CBA This study is based on a trade package consisting of blockwork, insulation and facing brick.
- Flooring trade package CBA This study is based on a trade package consisting of a combination of hard and soft floor finishes.
- Board insulation trade package CBA This study is based on a trade package consisting of either rigid urethane board or extruded polystyrene board (70-80mm).
- Partitioning trade package CBA This study is based on a trade package incorporating timber studs, insulation, and plasterboard.
Methodology
These cost benefit analyses have been conducted using data taken from WRAP’s Net Waste Tool. The online Tool helps project teams to forecast the waste that would be expected on different projects.
The Tool works by setting up basic cost plan information to which baseline and good practice industry wastage rates are applied. The analysis identifies which components and specifications offer the greatest opportunities for waste reduction, and proposes a least cost segregation strategy. The Tool forecasts the overall quantities and costs of waste at baseline, good and user-targeted levels of performance, including the value of wasted materials and the cost of waste disposal.
