Get Sust! Issue 31

Which OSC system saves the most waste?

Some off-site construction (OSC) systems can cut site waste by up to 90 percent, says WRAP, the government-funded Waste & Resources Action Programme which has published a series of case studies on different techniques.

Researched by Mtech, the case studies investigate five OSC systems: light steel frame, volumetric construction, precast, volumetric pods and timber frame.

They conclude that the most effective method in terms of waste reduction is volumetric construction, which brings trades into the factory, followed by light steel frame, which could cut waste by up to 70 percent.

WRAP’s Yorkon case study of volumetric construction generated 1.8% waste of the overall quantity of the materials used, of which 65% was recycled and notes that by taking better control of the flow of materials companies like Yorkon have managed to reduce the waste sent to landfill by 50 percent since 2004.

It is worth noting, however, that each of the five techniques studied has other environmental impacts that must be taken into account during decision-making.

Learn more:

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Download the five case studies from www.wrap.org.uk/construction/.