Stage 1: Design

The new build design approach, to both buildings and infrastructure, is the most important driver for the displacement of primary aggregates by recycled and secondary aggregates. The design approach described in Materials Resource Efficiency in Regeneration Flowchart and the ICE Demolition Protocol drives efficient demolition and refurbishment behaviour. It does so through methodologies which lead to the specification and procurement of recovered materials in the new build (increasing demand for recovered materials in the process).  The user is guided to the walkthrough example which describes in detail the steps involved:

• Assessment of New Build Recovered Material Potential and Targets (115 kb)

Further support is provided by The Net Waste Tool, which extends and replaces WRAP's Recycled Content Tool, and can be used to forecast waste arisings and recycled content at the design stage to help quantify the overall Net Waste for the project.  

The sections below summarise key influences related to design and the approaches of the ICE Demolition Protocol.

Can be driven through:

• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Client Instruction (e.g. through tender & contract clauses), or
• Planning conditions and agreements

Recent developments related to standards and specifications make it possible for recycled and secondary aggregates to be specified on a par with primary aggregates in many applications.

Standards & Specification for Recycled & Secondary Aggregates

Standards resulting from the 2003 Construction Products Directive removed many of the discriminatory clauses which prevented the potential of recycled and secondary aggregates to be realised. These standards endorse the use of recycled and secondary aggregates in high value applications, e.g. in structural concrete.  As a result a number of new markets have been created for such materials.

Similarly, revisions to the Specification for Highway Works also allow recycled and secondary aggregates to be specified on a par with primary materials. This provides a key opportunity where demolition, refurbishment and new build projects include infrastructure works associated with pavements and roads.

New build best practice involves the production of the New Build Bill Of Quantities (NB-BOQ), to summarise the potential for specifying recovered materials. The NB-BOQ shows a column where the target for specifying recovered material is noted:
NB-BOQ & D-BOQ Templates (58 kb)

This target is determined on the basis of the following:

• The constraints and opportunities represented by standards and specifications
• The potential for the supply of recovered materials at the required quality, quantity and price

The New Build Recovery Index (NBRI) is created from the NB-BOQ and indicates the percentage of recovered materials which can be specified in the new build. The index provides a target for the development team.

Download Assessment of New Build Recovered Material Potential & Targets (115 kb)  section of the 'Implementing Best Practice' document