Delivering waste efficiency in commercial buildings: A guide for facilities managers

BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.

Delivering waste efficiency in commercial buildings: A guide for facilities managers (IP 12/14) was written by Stuart Blofeld and published by BRE on 18 November 2014.

This information paper is part of a series of BRE publications providing guidance for facilities managers, maintenance contractors and building owners about the operation and management of commercial buildings. It provides guidance about how to implement an integrated waste management strategy through improved facilities management and is targeted at facilities managers who are responsible for organising waste management services.

The provision of waste management services in commercial buildings can be varied, with many different operating models dependent on the contractual arrangements in place between the building owner, facilities management company, tenants and waste management contractors.

Waste management is becoming an increasingly important part of a facilities manager’s role, with key drivers including:

• Compliance with existing waste legislation.
• Pressure to reduce building management costs and increase profitability.
• Implementation of company environmental management systems that require better reporting of waste management.
• Client corporate social responsibility to reduce waste and divert waste from landfill.

This information paper provides an overview of the waste hierarchy and UK waste legislation and examines techniques for understanding the causes of waste and the actions that can be taken to prevent waste. It also provides guidance about benchmarking performance, setting targets, the importance of user engagement and key issues when contracting waste management services.

Its contents are:

• UK legislation and the waste hierarchy.
• Gaining an overview.
• Frequency of waste collection.
• Developing a waste prevention plan.
• Benchmarking your waste performance.
• Developing a waste management performance specification.
• Conclusions.
• References.

--BRE Group

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