Knottingley Flood Alleviation Scheme

“Ensure at least 60% of aggregates used in Capital works are from secondary/recycled sources.”

Project description

Background
This project involved construction of a new flood embankment to protect 244 properties and creation of a 6hectare wetland habitat.

Waste Minimisation Activity
This project is a good example of a sustainable flood defence scheme, which is enhanced by the use of over 99% recycled materials.

Other than a small amount of asbestos (which was properly disposed of off-site) no other materials were disposed of off-site. The arisings were reused to form a car parking area and a viewing platform.

Materials Targetted

Reclaimed clay material to construct the embankment = 25,000 m3
Sheet steel piles = 135 tonnes of which 70% were reused

Project Drivers for Waste Minimisation

Cost benefits
- Reused clay material having a favourable price
- Landfill Tax & other waste disposal costs
Client’s high value of waste minimisation and material reuse

Project profile

Location:
Knottingley, England

Project Duration (in relation to the described activities):
April 2004 to September 2004

Client:
Environment Agency

Key Statistics:
25,000m3 reclaimed clay
135 tonnes sheet steel piles – 70% reused

Company Profile

Environment Agency
National Capital Programme Management Service

Client and Project Manager

Project Partners:
Volker Stevin (Principal Contractor)
WS Atkins (Designer)

Project Approach to Waste Minimisation and Sustainable Use of Resources

Design Phase Activities:

Enabling waste minimisation and the use of non-primary materials:
The designers were strongly encouraged to seriously consider non-virgin materials proposed for the sheet piles and clay fill.

Using specifications appropriate to enabling the use of recycled and secondary materials:
The specification for embankment material enabled appropriate recycled materials to be utilised.

Construction Phase Activities:

Enabling waste minimisation and the use of non-primary materials:
Client perception of reuse (where appropriate) was a very positive enabling element.

Using local approaches:
Reclaimed clay sources were investigated at the same time as new during the tendering process.

Company practice and management in supporting waste minimisation and improved approaches to resources use:
A partnering arrangement between the Client and Principal Contractor encouraged a positive culture of waste minimisation and reuse of materials.

Better handling of materials:
Topsoil and subsoil were segregated and reused. Materials from demolished buildings were also segregated and reused.

Good practice in quantifying, costing and recording data on wastes and materials:
KPIs were used to encourage reuse/recycling of materials. The KPI measures were defined as: “Difference in the amount of secondary/recycled materials used in a construction project compared to the total amount of material used in a construction project expressed as a percentage of the total material used”. A target cost contract with pain/gain share was used to encourage cost savings.

Good practice in demolition and deconstruction activities:
Demolition arisings were reused to construct a viewing platform and the car park area.

Lessons Learned, Benefits and Barriers

By maximising both the use of recycled/secondary materials and the reuse of materials on site, costs can be reduced at the same time as minimising potential negative environmental impacts.

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