0.WASTE.LAND

Group members: Ophelie Prevesianos, Claudia Robalino, Annalaura Fornasier, Beatrice Rita, Cristina Loya, Salima Toturbieva, Pinar Cengiz

Mission Statement

The construction industry is one of the most significant contributors to waste generation in the UK, as well as worldwide. Evidence shows

that it uses up to 50 % of its mineral resources from nature and it is predicted to generate 2.2 billion tonnes of waste by 2025 (Fabris,

bdcnetwork). In addition to its apparent environmental benefits, waste reduction would be economically beneficial to the UK government

and to the construction sector. According to BRE (Building Research Establishment, 2013), reducing construction waste by 5 % would save

up to 130 Million GBP in the construction industry. Waste reduction would also lower greenhouse gases emissions and would also generate

a new profit stream. While the government is influenced by environmental concerns, these financial gains are directly associated with the

professionals in the industry. Many strategies are being developed to help minimize waste during all construction stages, such as: sorting and

recycling on-site, SWMP development, flexibility and deconstruction, material reuse and recovery.

The platform 0.WASTE.LAND provides a user-friendly interface which helps facilitate the material reuse and recovery strategy. Its mission

is to contribute to a systemic transition to a circular construction sector. In addition, it encourages exchange between different industry

stakeholders, as sometimes communication between architects, clients, contractors, sub-contractors, and suppliers can be challenging. The

tool was originally created as a marketplace for used materials that we conventionally call “waste”. The user can become a seller or a buyer

at different periods. 0.WASTE.LAND provides background information on each used material: Is it certified? How much did it travel? What

project was it removed from? What are its physical properties? The buyer could similarly find out how the sold material is being reused.

Behind the user-friendly interface, a team works to transport used materials to the company’s warehouse.

However, the tool is far from perfect, as many of its functions are simplified and limited. After the pitch day, 0.WASTE.LAND members

spent some time analysing and evaluating the proposed development model. Numerous were the questions and considerations raised: from

specialising 0.WASTE.LAND’s service to one material waste, narrowing down the customer target (i.e. small contractors, private

customers), to leaving the physical infrastructure (the material warehouse) out of the proposal and exclusively focusing on the digital

platform.

Individually, certain aspects of the platform for 0.WASTE.LAND were reimagined and critically assessed by its members.

Three services were developed and added to the platform:

- 0.WASTE.PLAN: A BIM waste prediction platform. Integration with BIM software of the platform facilitates pre-construction planning

and prevention of waste as part of “design-out waste” strategy.

- A waste management system: A preliminary service that organises the waste management on construction and demolition sites before it

arrives into the warehouse. This service aims to optimize the quality of the waste for its potential re-use.

- The Active Team: a coordinative and active advisory agency that provides practical support to customers on non-virgin materials and how

to appropriately use them within their projects.

Along with the new services provided, a research team is envisaged to bring new knowledge to the platform’s users. In this way,

0.WASTE.LAND wishes to constantly evolve, adapt and change to reach its long-term environmental, social and economic justice goals.

The research team invests in the following themes:

- A background research on POE (Post Occupancy Evaluation) and a support for first post occupancy elevation surveys for everyone.

- The social lens: from a social point of view, 0.WASTE.LAND seeks to promote and gather several aspects. It becomes more than just a

platform or way in which materials from other sites are re-used in order to reduce carbon footprint in many scales, it also encourages and

stimulates people to exchange knowledge no matter the race, background nor gender in order to reactivate a precise scope which is

particularly one of the most polluted environments.

-A community planning panel and social consultation as strategies to democratize the use of land and propose alternative options for

demolition and waste production. Plus, provide updated and transparent data on the existing projects and the social problems they expose.

- Analysis and application of existing regulations related to the reuse of construction waste to assure the products on the platform achieve

necessary material qualities needed in projects.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that issues like transportation of materials, management and cost-effectiveness of warehouses are still to

be improved in the development model. The development is also limited as a pilot project has not been planned to test whether the platform

would successfully work. Despite the different limitations, 0.WASTE.LAND members believe that if, connecting, sensible and open-source

initiatives like this are encouraged, at national level, could contribute to the digitalisation of the construction sector and to transition towards

a circular mindset.