Measures Database
| WASTE: RECYCLING FACILITIES |
Fit as standard Applicable to all sites Low cost Easy implementation BREEAM credits achievable |
|
Description |
|
 Providing easily accessible recycling facilities on site will encourage building users to sort their waste into separate streams. This will facilitate the recycling process. Building users need a number of containers to store e.g. a week’s worth of waste. It is important that during design an effective waste recycling strategy is adopted and that there is a convenient solution to allow building users to dispose of a sufficient quantity and number of segregated waste streams. Design, size and appearance of waste storage containers, and how they fit into the business are important factors to encourage effective use. The bins should be clearly labelled and in an appropriate location in the development. |
|
Cost |
|
| The cost assumed to provide sufficient recycling facilities is approximately £18000 for a factory (5000m2 production, 1000m2 of office). This is based on the cost of providing 10m2 of outside floor area for recycling bins. | |
Benefits |
|
Local Authorities |
Most local authorities have waste recycling targets to meet. Ensuring that all new developments have suitable recycling facilities will help these targets to be met and prevent the need for new landfill sites. National, regional and local planning policy includes waste minimisation and recycling requirements. |
Global Environment |
Having a segregated area designated for recyclable materials has benefits in reducing the overall quantity of waste produced and associated costs of disposal of waste to landfill. Reducing the amount sent to landfill will reduce the rate at which land is being used for landfill and quarrying activities, conserving natural resources. Land available for landfill is rapidly diminishing, and the environmental and health impacts resulting from land filling of mixed waste is subject to increasingly stringent controls and regulation. |
Occupier |
A convenient purpose-designed storage space ensures that sufficient waste is accumulated before it is collected, it also helps occupiers to store waste material safely. |
Developer |
Ensuring that recycling facilities are provided and developing a positive waste management strategy is likely to be viewed favourably by both building occupiers and local authorities awarding planning permission. |
Implementation notes |
|
| Guaranteeing uniform waste segregation with no cross-contamination at source can be difficult to achieve. Some form of secondary sorting will be necessary for small commercial and light industrial waste streams at a central location. For industrial waste, and some large commercial wastes, uniform segregation on site is more readily achievable, and in many cases is standard practice. | |
| Other links in this section |
