Earth Exchange®, the UK’s leading construction waste recycling website, has been shortlisted by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) for its 2008 award for Innovative Practice.
As a finalist in the CIWM’s awards for Environmental Excellence, www.earthexchange.com will also be considered for the overall 2008 Environmental Excellence Award.
Commenting on Earth Exchange’s success, Alex Albon, operations director said: “We are really pleased to receive this acknowledgement from the Chartered Institution of Waste Management. It reflects the potential that Earth Exchange has to help the construction industry meet the government’s target of halving the amount of waste it sends to landfill by 2012.”
He added: “On current projections, it is conceivable that in 12 months’ time Earth Exchange members could have exchanged 7.25 million tonnes of construction waste thereby avoiding landfill taxes and improving their environmental performance. By this time they could also have cut road haulage by 9 million miles and reduced fuel use by 5.8 million litres, cutting operating costs and reducing the carbon footprint of their businesses. Earth Exchange members are benefitting from a technological innovation that not only boosts their bottom line but also shrinks their carbon footprint – it’s a winning combination for business and the environment.”
Earth Exchange covers the entire UK with members ranging in size from large plcs with many sites to small operators with a single site. Materials that can be exchanged via the website currently include soil, crushed aggregate, topsoil, subsoil, compost, bricks, blocks, paving and pipe.
Earth Exchange has been described as a major breakthrough for the construction industry. It works by using real-time accurate mapping of actual and future construction sites – the locations where construction wastes are generated and where such wastes can be re-used. Members can state what and when materials will be available at each site and state what materials are required on their sites. Exchanges are made on terms agreed between members and can be swaps or trades. The arrival of Earth Exchange means that for the first time there will be accurate mapping of construction activity in the UK and a simple and accessible method of streamlining procurement and waste management.
