Ballantyne Homes Ltd is currently building 40 affordable homes at Vivian Park Mews on the site of the former Port Talbot hospital in Aberavon. When demolishing the original building to make way for the development, the company was keen to salvage as much waste as possible and reduce its reliance on landfill.
Following initial contact from Ballantyne Homes, Wales Environment Trust introduced the company to the wider support available through Team Wales, which has been developed by the Welsh Assembly Government in order to bring together all Welsh service providers in waste and resource management.
Envirowise, one of the organisations within Team Wales, provided a pre-demolition survey to identify the types of materials used in the hospital. Wales Environment Trust then guided Ballantyne Homes to facilities which enabled the developer to recycle the building and its contents. Glass from the windows was finely crushed into a material for use under paving and even the furniture was put to use, with beds being purchased by a residential home.
Alistair Greening, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Ballantyne Homes, said: “We were amazed when we first visited the premises as everything had been left completely untouched when the hospital closed in 2003. Traditionally with projects like this 50-60% of the waste is destined for landfill, but we were able to reuse or recycle all this material. 391 lorry loads were removed for use in a project in Swansea alone.”
“Working with Team Wales enabled us to put together a strategy before demolition started. As a result we were able to take advantage of every recycling opportunity, reducing our impact on the environment and creating a very cost-effective solution to dealing with the amount of material on site.”
Alan Tillotson, Envirowise Ambassador for Wales, commented: “With projects like this there is no reason why large volumes of waste should go to landfill. As Ballantyne Homes has demonstrated so well, the possibilities for reuse and recycling are endless and implementing resource efficiency in this way can significantly increase profit. Ultimately, it’s great news for builders, house buyers and the environment alike.”
Ed Gmitrowicz, Programme Area Manager for Envirowise in Wales, added: “It is clear that there are huge savings to be made in the construction sector, both financial and environmental. We aim to work with construction firms and developers in Wales to help them see the benefit of improved resource efficiency and start making savings immediately.”
Other Welsh businesses wishing to improve profitability and reduce their environmental impact can benefit from Envirowise’s free and confidential advice, available through a helpline, information and site visits* from a team of expert advisors. For further online information please visit www.envirowise.gov.uk.cymru or call 0800 585794.
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Issued on behalf of Envirowise by Trimedia Harrison Cowley. For further press information please contact Abi Dare on 02920 344717 or email abi.dare@trimediahc.com.
About Team Wales:
Envirowise is part of Team Wales/Tîm Cymru, which has been developed by the Welsh Assembly Government in order to bring together all service providers in waste and resources management in Wales. It aims to provide an opportunity for business and the community to meet all relevant contacts and get their questions answered.
Organisations within Team Wales are:
- ARENA Network
- Cylch
- Environment Agency
- Envirowise
- Wales Environment Trust
- Wales Waste and Resources Research Centre (WWRReC)
- Waste Awareness Wales
- Welsh Assembly Government
- Welsh Local Government Association
- WRAP
Ynglþn ag Tîm Cymru:
Envirowise ydy barthu chan Heigia Cymru / Tîm Cymru , a datblygwyd at 'r Cymraeg Chyman Llywodraeth er chyrch ar y cyd pawb gwasanaeth darparwyr i mewn afrada a adnoddau reolaeth i mewn Cymru. Amcana at arlwya achlysur achos busnes a 'r chymdeithas at chwrdd pawb 'n berthynasol chyffyrddiadau a ca 'n hwy bynciau atebedig.
Organisations mewn Heigia Cymru Tim Cymru ydy :
- ARENA Network
- Cylch
- Environment Agency
- Envirowise
- Wales Environment Trust
- Wales Waste and Resources Research Centre (WWRReC)
- Waste Awareness Wales
- Welsh Assembly Government
- Welsh Local Government Association
- WRAP
About Envirowise
Envirowise delivers a valuable programme of confidential advice to UK businesses. This advice enables businesses to improve profitability and reduce environmental impact.
Independent, practical and proven guidance is available through a helpline, information resources and on site visits delivered by a national team of expert advisors. Each solution is driven by the specific needs of individual firms, to genuinely improve their business practices, profitability and competitiveness. Since 1994, Envirowise has helped UK industry save over £1 billion.
The Envirowise programme is available to any UK business, completely free of charge. For more information visit www.envirowise.gov.uk or call 0800 585 794.
* Please note that different services are available in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – please contact our Advice Line on 0800 585 794 for more information on whether you are eligible for a site visit.
Ynglþn ag Envirowise
Mae Envirowise yn darparu rhaglen werthfawr o gyngor cyfrinachol i fusnesau yng Nghymru. Mae’r cyngor hwn yn galluogi busnesau i wella eu proffidioldeb a lleihau eu heffaith ar yr amgylchedd.
Gellir cael arweiniad annibynnol, ymarferol sydd wedi’i brofi drwy gyfrwng llinell gymorth, adnoddau gwybodaeth ac ar ymweliadau safle sy’n cael eu cyflwyno gan dîm cenedlaethol o ymgynghorwyr arbenigol. Mae pob datrysiad yn cael ei yrru gan anghenion penodol cwmnïau unigol i wella eu hymarferion busnes, proffidioldeb a’u gallu cystadleuol. Ers 1994, mae Envirowise wedi helpu diwydiant y DU arbed £1.3 biliwn. Ariennir Envirowise yng Nghymru gan Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru.
gwasanaethau a chyhoeddiadau Enviowise ar gael i unrhyw fusnes yn y DU, a hynny am ddim. Am fwy o wybodaeth ewch i www.envirowise.gov.uk/wales neu ffoniwch 0800 585 794.