The Welsh construction and demolition (C&D) sector reused, recycled, or recovered 87 per cent of waste produced in 2012, new figures from the Welsh Government have shown.

Two surveys produced by Natural Resources Wales were undertaken last year to provide a ‘snapshot’ of the waste produced in the C&D and Commercial and Industrial (C&I) industries in Wales in 2012.

Construction and Demolition Surveys

According to the C&D survey, which collected data from 457 Welsh business sites between July 2013 and January 2014, of the 3.4 million tonnes of waste produced in 2012, the vast majority of it was prepared for reuse, recycling, or recovery.

Indeed, Welsh businesses in this sector were just three per cent off the Welsh Government’s 2020 target for the reuse, recycling and recovery of this waste.

The vast majority of this waste was reused (44 per cent, or five million tonnes), with recycling proving to be the second most popular disposal method (31 per cent, 1.1 million tonnes). Landfilling accounted for 19 per cent of waste disposal, while just four per cent (130,00 tonnes) was sent for backfilling.

Preparation for reuse was the dominant waste management method in the South East (58 per cent) and North Wales (46 per cent), while land disposal (39 per cent) followed by recycling (31 per cent) were the most common methods in the South West.

Of the C&D sectors, Civil Engineering and Construction businesses generated the majority of the overall waste (47 per cent and 41 per cent respectively), with a smaller proportion generated by General Building (seven per cent) and Demolition (four per cent).

Industrial and Commercial Waste Survey

Similarly, the Industrial and Commercial Waste survey (which collected data from 1,540 business sites) highlighted that 58 per cent of the 3.7 million tonnes of waste produced was prepared for reuse, recycling and composting.

Unlike the C&D industry, recycling was the most popular disposal route for waste disposal, accounting for 1.6 million tonnes (42 per cent), followed by landfill (26 per cent), reuse (15 per cent), land recovery (five per cent), incineration (four per cent) and composting (one per cent).

The commercial sectors’ rate for reuse, recycling and composting was high, with 68 per cent diverted from landfill – just two per cent less than the Welsh Government’s target of 70 percent for 2024/25. However, a much larger proportion of commercial was sent to landfill (compared to the C&D industry), with 26 per cent of waste being sent to landfill in 2012.

In the industrial sector, 50 per cent of waste was prepared for reuse, recycling or composting with 27 per cent being disposed of on land.

However, the survey highlights that by removing the energy sector from consideration, only seven per cent of waste went to landfill, with 62 per cent of waste prepared for sustainable uses.

The most significant type of I&C waste generated was non-metallic wastes, making up 29 per cent, followed by mixed wastes, 22 per cent, mineral wastes, 21 per cent and animal & vegetal wastes, 10 per cent.

The potential to save ‘millions of pounds’

The Welsh Government suggests that businesses in Wales could still save ‘millions of pounds’ through continued waste prevention.

Commenting on the findings of the surveys, Minister for Natural Resources and Food Alun Davies said: “These results from 2012 demonstrate that there is still much we can do to prevent waste going to landfill in Wales, but the construction, demolition and commercial sector results in particular make it clear that high recycling rates are achievable, as we move towards a circular economy in Wales.

“I launched the Waste Prevention Programme in 2013 with clear targets across all sectors, and I hope these results reinforce for Welsh businesses how they could be breaking the link between waste generation and economic growth.

“Food and drink manufacturing is a great example of a sector with the potential to make savings and become more competitive by preventing waste.”

Emyr Roberts, Chief Executive of Natural Resources Wales, added: “Businesses know that the key to economic sustainability is keeping costs down and better management of resources, and waste is no exception.

“The results from these surveys are encouraging in part but there is an opportunity to do more.

“This is why we are committed to working with businesses to support them to reduce and manage their waste appropriately to benefit the environment and the economy.”

Read Wales’ Industrial & Commercial Waste Survey for 2012.