The University of Ulster is to host a free training programme for local construction companies in a bid to help reduce the 4 million tonnes of waste produced by the industry each year.
It’s estimated that only around one third of Northern Ireland’s construction, demolition and excavation waste is currently reused or recycled.
But now, thanks to funding from the Department of the Environment’s Rethink Waste Revenue Fund, the University can offer free training to contractors who want to reduce the amount of construction materials they send to landfill.
Organised by the Constructing Excellence NI (CEni) team at the Jordanstown campus, the programme will run in partnership with the Government funded WRAP NI agency, which delivers a range of initiatives and support programmes to encourage more recycling.
The training aims to contribute towards the Rethink Waste Revenue Fund’s objective of reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions through engagement with the construction sector.
University of Ulster Professor of Construction, George Heaney, said: “The School of the Built Environment, through the Constructing Excellence initiative, is delighted to receive the contract and is looking forward to working with contractors, as they sign up to play their part in reducing construction waste going to landfill.”
Running from next month until March 2012, the programme will enable 16 local contractors to implement and operate a certifiable Environmental Management System (EMS) and a Waste Management System (WMS) which will help them to comply with forthcoming construction site waste legislation.
Participating companies will receive: free software; training and support to enable implementation of an EMS within six to 12 months of starting the programme; Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) training and support; and a carbon utilities tracking tool to monitor, record and manage utilities.
Companies interested in joining the EMS/SWMP Training Programme can obtain an application form by contacting the CEni team at the University of Ulster:
Tel: 028 9036 6559 / 8624 / 6215 or visit the CEni website www.ulster.ac.uk/ceni
Caption: Professor George Heaney
Notes to editors:
The purpose of the DOE Rethink Waste Revenue Fund is to support the Programme for Government targets for reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions. It is expected that this will principally be achieved by increased diversion of waste from landfill through prevention, reuse and recycling in line with the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy, the Waste Management Plans of individual councils and partnerships and the Northern Ireland Landfill Allowance Scheme.
The role of WRAP NI is to help the construction sector and their clients to use resources more efficiently and to cut the amount of waste to landfill in half by 2012.
Constructing Excellence NI (CEni) is a centre of professional construction expertise based at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown. ‘Constructing Excellence’ is the banner under which the construction industry, its clients and Government are working to improve UK construction performance. It aims to showcase innovations in both products and performance and to highlight best practice.