"I have come away from this event really motivated to be able to justify taking a pro-active stance
on the environmental agenda."
Simon Butler, Operations Co-ordinator, Robert Woodhead Ltd
Case studies
East Midlands Construction Resource Efficiency Club
During 2006 Responsible Solutions Ltd in partnership with EMCBE, ran the first construction specific resource efficiency club funded by Envirowise. The core aim of the club was to promote the benefits of resource efficiency to construction companies based in the East Midlands and as a result divert waste away from landfill and improve the reuse and recycling of waste.
The club had 10 core members during its first year which represented a varied group of construction contractors who are active within the East Midlands. These members received one to one support and advice throughout the year which was tailored to suit their specific needs as well as access to a number of workshops.
The club’s members are currently implementing actions to deliver savings in excess of £220,000. Further to this, if these actions are rolled out from the site to encompass the whole of the organisation, across all core members, savings in excess of £2.5M could be achieved. Examples of actions taken by these organisations included, waste segregation and minimisation initiatives, plasterboard recycling, buying bespoke plasterboard, pallet take-back schemes and water minimisation initiatives to name just a few!
Activities offered by the club:
- One-site Site Waste Management Plan Workshops
- Tailored Toolbox Talks
- On-site Best Practice Planning meetings
- Environmental Legislation Workshops
Membership of the club helped focus attention, within the organisation, on resource efficiency and sustainability. As a result of their membership a number of core members have undoubtedly improved their general environmental awareness and as a result this has translated into their organisations. Further to this, two organisations that previously did not have ISO 14001 have begun to implement the system within their organisation with the hope of achieving full certification during 2007.
Other organisations involved during this year included, Wastecycle Ltd and the National Green Specification.