100 organizations sign up to halve waste to landfill

In just six months, 100 leading organizations from across the construction supply chain have committed to Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Halving Waste to Landfill voluntary agreement, indicating that resource efficiency remains a priority despite the recession.

With the construction sector currently sending some 25 million tons of waste to landfill every year, the growing number of signatories suggests mounting recognition of the economic and environmental case for change.

“Confirmation in the Budget for 2009 that landfill tax will continue to increase year-on-year gives an added incentive to this collaborative effort to reduce the amount of construction waste sent to landfill,” comments Nick Raynsford, chair of the Strategic Forum for Construction. “The industry’s response to WRAP’s Halving Waste to Landfill commitment is encouraging and demonstrates a clear understanding that the cost savings that sustainable working can deliver are critical in a challenging economic climate.“

Marcus Gover, director of market development at WRAP emphasized the importance of signatories now delivering against their commitment: “By launching this commitment in October 2008, WRAP created a framework to support the entire construction supply chain in reaping the significant economic and environmental benefits that come from increased waste reduction. Signing up is just the beginning – signatories are setting targets and reporting progress year on year. WRAP provides practical support to ensure that all signatories have the tools and support they need to deliver against the waste reduction targets – benchmarking, measurement and reporting are key.”