Lafarge Plasterboard has reduced its waste to landfill from manufacturing to 0.03% of output – virtually zero – contributing to the achievement of Target 2 of the Ashdown Agreement, the industry’s commitment to reducing plasterboard waste.
Lafarge Plasterboard, the leading performer for waste reduction in the sector, has also eliminated 3,000 tonnes of plasterboard used in packaging during Year 3 of the Agreement just reported by WRAP – a figure which contributes to industry targets for packaging reduction in the Sustainable Construction Strategy and Construction Commitments ‘Halving Waste to Landfill’ Programmes.
Steve Hemmings, Sustainability Manager at Lafarge Plasterboard explains: “Sustainability is a core value for us, not a ‘bolt-on’ extra. In line with this ethos we have made a long-term investment of £1.6 million in a new packaging plant which has helped to reduce waste to landfill in compliance with Targets 1 and 4 of the Agreement.”
The Ashdown Agreement on Plasterboard Recycling, which concluded its current targets in December 2010, is a set of four objectives for the diversion of waste plasterboard from landfill between WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) and the Gypsum Products Development Association (GPDA); which comprises Lafarge Plasterboard, British Gypsum and Knauf Drywall.
Steve Hemmings concludes: “We look forward to the final performance assessment from WRAP and setting future targets that will help us all to contribute further to waste reduction.”
Other key Lafarge Plasterboard statistics:
- Quantity of waste recovered and recycled into new board (Target 3) increased by 180% over the previous year – compared with 38% across the sector.
- Leading recycler of plasterboard waste produced during construction by recycling a quantity equivalent to 50% - compared with 26% across the sector.
- Now using more post-consumer gypsum per m2 of board supplied than any other manufacturer – around twice the industry average.
