The Considerate Constructors Scheme has launched an industry-wide campaign to cut plastic waste and increase reuse and recycling of the material.
The ‘Spotlight on…plastics and packaging’ campaign promises to raise awareness and showcase best practice after a survey of over 900 people working within the UK and Irish construction industries found that over half (51%) have little understanding of the rules and regulations surrounding plastics.
That was despite 98% agreeing that the over-consumption of plastics and packaging is a global issue and 92% believing that plastics and packaging are “extremely dangerous” to the environment.
A total of 81% of respondents said the construction industry is not doing enough to reduce its consumption of plastics and packaging but only 44% said they know how to recycle the materials.
The Scheme is calling on all construction sites, companies, suppliers and clients of construction projects to drastically reduce their consumption of plastics and packaging, arguing that it makes sense not just in environmental terms but also in terms of cost.
‘Spotlight on…plastics and packaging’ provides a suite of resources to help the industry to address this issue. It includes a range practical case studies and guidance from contractors, clients and service suppliers including: AMA Waste Management; Aztec; Balfour Beatty; Crossrail; Environment Agency; Griffiths; Knight Build; Protec; Right Waste Right Place; Mace; Morgan Sindall; Multiplex; Skanska; Sir Robert McAlpine; Wates and Ward.
Considerate Constructors Scheme chief executive, Edward Hardy said: “As construction is the second largest consumer of plastic in the UK, our industry has one of the greatest responsibilities to society, and to the environment, to ensure that we are working tirelessly to improve our standards in minimising waste from plastics.
“The Scheme’s ‘Spotlight on…plastics and packaging’ campaign provides resources, practical support and guidance helping everyone to take effective measures to tackle this issue. While considerable progress is being made – with over 76% of Scheme-registered construction sites setting targets to reduce, reuse and recycle waste – it is clear that a concerted effort to raise further awareness, and to provide the necessary support, is needed to achieve this drastic reduction in waste from plastics and packaging.”
Click here to access the ‘Spotlight on…plastics and packaging’ campaign.
