SCOTLAND’s construction sector – the largest contributor to the country’s landfill – has gone into partnership to find new ways to reduce waste from its activities.
Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) and Zero Waste Scotland are joining forces to encourage the industry to discover innovative ways of cutting its waste.
The construction sector is the largest consumer of natural resources and accounts for a third of our overall waste to landfill.
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However, it is felt that reusing, recycling, waste minimisation and “circular economy” approaches could offer companies significant opportunities in cost savings, market opportunities and commercial competitive advantage.
Zero Waste Scotland is a not-for-profit company with a mission to create a society where resources are valued and nothing is wasted, and its work has contributed to annual savings of 990,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
CSIC links businesses, universities and the public sector in supporting increased innovation and productivity. Its projects are forecast to deliver £682 million of additional revenue, £6.84m cost savings and 1263 new jobs for the industry.
Stephen Good, CSIC chief executive, said: “Reducing construction waste and encouraging circular economy approaches should be a priority for everyone in the sector, and there’s no doubt that it is increasingly becoming a driver for businesses.
“CSIC has already funded numerous projects in these areas, including reusing waste tyres in acoustic barriers and producing bricks made from construction waste.
“By working in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, who share many common goals with ourselves, we hope we can support even more construction businesses to innovate and grow whilst helping reduce the construction sector’s significant contribution to the country’s landfill.”
Zero Waste Scotland’s chief executive, Iain Gulland, added: “This partnership is a sign of our ambition to change the way we design and build in Scotland. The construction sector faces major challenges in reducing its waste but there are equally big opportunities for businesses to reduce costs and create new revenue streams in Scotland’s emerging circular economy.”
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