Guidance for Carbon & Energy
Aim: To minimise non-renewable resources extracted from the earth.
Aim: Avoid any construction waste going to landfill
Circular Economy
A circular economy means to reduce waste by using all available waste materials rather than sending them into the waste stream. By keeping resources and materials in use as much as possible through their re-use or re-purposing, unnecessary waste is minimised to almost zero.
The Circular Economy is still a relatively new concept, but will require everyone to rethink how we make, manage, maintain, use and renew our buildings and infrastructure. The guidance below sets out key principles for discussion between planners and design teams. EDC endorses the GLA’s approach to preparing Circular Economy Statements as a means of reporting a circular economy led design process.
Engage the constructor early in the design process to co-develop the circular economy approach together.
Use workshops to co-develop circular economy approach to harness expertise and experience, and share the risk between the design team, client and constructors.
Re-use what’s already there
Most projects in Ebbsfleet are starting from an empty site, and therefore re-use, retrofit and refurbishment will not be feasible. However where existing buildings and infrastructure already exist on site, these should be re-used.
Prioritise off-site manufacture
Consider the role of off-site construction and the use of modern methods of construction, which can significantly reduce waste through standardisation and factory fabrication driving material efficiency. A design with standardised elements uses clusters of components as the basis of construction with standardised dimensions, enabling maximum waste reduction and reuse.
Circular sourcing
Where a site includes existing buildings or infrastructure on site, an audit of the existing material should be undertaken to identify if the existing site/ building/ material can be retained, refurbished, reused or re-purposed either onsite or locally.
When no resources already existing on the site, the priority is to look into reusing materials instead of sourcing virgin materials.
Re-purpose materials that could be used in another form.
Responsible sourcing
Where virgin materials are required, only use materials from a sustainable resource, as products made from virgin materials contribute to resource depletion and require carbon intensive activities to manufacture.
Recycle materials. This step requires additional energy and often devalues materials, which is why it should be considered last.
Long life and loose fit
Buildings that are built to be durable should last longer, and thus need less resources to maintain them during their lifetime. The durability of buildings can be maximised by;
Design in lifetime layers: Designing the building in layers,based on the design life of components. Shorter-life layers need to consider how they can be easily accessed and replaced.
Design for flexibility : A flexible built asset is capable of adapting to the changing use of building occupants through the reconfigurability of its parts. This may include short periodical changes (e.g. different daytime or evening use, seasonal changes) or long-term changes (e.g. change of ownership).
Design for adaptability : An adaptable asset is designed to suit the present needs of building users while considering and accommodating possible future changes.
This involves scenario planning and optimising the structural and non-structural elements of the building to best respond to the potential future scenarios.
Design for disassembly
The design team should consider how all layers of the buildings can be disassembled and re-used from the outset of the project.
Use the ‘layers approach’ to structure the design approach and allow different elements with different design lives to be easily maintained and replaced.
Use mechanical fixtures and fittings rather than adhesives.
Material passports
A material passport is a document that defines all materials used within a product, and the key characteristics that will enable the product/material to be recovered , re-used or recycled more easily in the future.
This will improve the ability of disassembled elements to be reused.
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Circular Economy Statement
Provide a circular economy statement which demonstrates the percentage of:
Building materials by volume that are reused, recycled, secondary and renewable in construction.
Construction materials by volume that are responsibly sourced.
Building materials/elements reusable at end of life by volume/tonnage.
Construction material manufactured offsite.
The circular economy statement should set out how materials arising from demolition and remediation works will be reused and/or recycled and demonstrate how the design and construction of the development will reduce material demands and enable building materials, components and products to be disassembled and re-used at the end of their useful life, following design for disassembly principles.
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Zero construction waste
Waste should be minimised throughout construction, and contribute towards a circular economy approach. A construction waste management strategy should establish target rates for recycling and define processes to manage different waste streams, as well as a commitment to preventing any biodegradable waste going to landfill.
Appoint someone to take overall responsibility for the strategy. Typically, this will be the client in the pre-construction phase, but responsibility may transfer to the principal contractor when construction starts.
Start preparing the strategy during the concept and design of the project.
Consider the construction methods and materials used to reduce the amount of waste produced.
Plan for sufficient storage space to allow wastes to be properly segregated as they arise.
Pre-order materials to specification at the design stage to reduce waste created from off-cuts.
Purchase materials with less or returnable packaging.
Record all decisions about the project design, construction methods or materials that will minimise the waste produced on site.
Record all measures taken to reduce waste, to enable the tonnages of reduced waste to be quantified.
Identify the types and quantities of waste that the project will produce. Estimate how much waste will be produced and set realistic targets for how much of that waste can be reused, recycled or disposed of.
Identify how to manage waste. Know where, when and what sort of materials can be reused, recycled or disposed of.
Keep signed waste transfer notes or consignment notes for all waste disposed of or transferred from the site.
Identify where and how to dispose of waste. Make sure that waste disposal contractors dispose of waste safely and legally.
Communicate the strategy and implement a training programme. Keep the strategy on site and include in inductions. Meet with staff and contractors to clearly explain why the strategy is important.
Carry out spot checks and monitor staff regularly to make sure they are following procedures.
Measure the waste. Keep track of all movements of waste within and from the site. Record the types of waste taken, who removed the waste and where they took the waste.
Update the strategy. Keep waste documents and update the strategy as the works progress to reflect the actual handling of waste.
Produce a final report on the use of recycled and secondary materials, waste reduction, segregation, recovery and disposal, and identified costs and savings.
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Construction Waste Management Plan
Provide a construction waste management strategy which outlines how waste materials will be managed efficiently and disposed of legally during construction, and how the re-use and recycling of materials will be maximised. The strategy should include ;
Who will be responsible for resource management.
Types of waste and estimated quantity that will be generated, an dhow it will be measured.
How the waste will be managed, including details of the % that will be re-used or recycled on site, or removed from the site for re-use, recycling, recovery or disposal.
Which contractors will be used to ensure the waste is correctly recycled or disposed of responsibly and legally.
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