VolkerFitzpatrick wins Sustainable Construction and Demolition Award

The award was achieved by sustainably managing 16,000 tonnes of heavily-impacted hydrocarbon and heavy metal excavated material. This waste was sent to a local facility to undergo treatment using E-Clay® technology which immobilises the source and pathway of contamination within the material so that it can be safely used once processed. Most of the material was returned to the site to be used as engineering backfill. 

Sustainability benefits included:

• Treatment of 16,000 tonnes of hazardous waste by innovative methods
• Using a local treatment facility to input the local economy
• Savings of 96,000 miles by prevention of waste going to landfill
• Significant reduction on traffic impacts on the locality
• Savings of 508,960 kg CO2 equivalent
• Considerable cost savings in processing the material rather than sending it to landfill.

Commenting on the award, Catherine Morby, environmental manager for VolkerFitzpatrick said: “We are committed to driving sustainability within our business and this is an acknowledgement of the good work being carried out on rail projects.”

Andrew Battye, head of HSEQS (rail division), added: “This is an excellent achievement for VolkerFitzpatrick’s Swansea team. They have worked extremely hard finding a sustainable solution to the project having a heavily-impacted hydrocarbon and heavy metal ground contamination classified as hazardous waste. It was fantastic to see engagement of our senior management, the environmental team and our supply chain, turning the problem into a success. This award has significantly created a great platform to build upon and raise the profile of environment and sustainability. By treating and reusing materials, it has demonstrably saved VolkerFitzpatrick around £825,000. This is a fantastic catalyst for a successful completion of the Swansea project."

Swansea Maliphant Intercity Express project
VolkerFitzpatrick is responsible for the design and construction of the Swansea Maliphant Intercity Express project. This is one of four maintenance and service depots being designed and constructed for Hitachi Rail as part of the Intercity Express Programme. Work is due to be completed by June 2015.

About the NFDC Construction and Demolition Award
The NFDC Sustainable Construction and Demolition Award is part of the Sustainability & Resource Industry awards hosted by CIWM. These recognise and reward best practice in the sustainable management of waste and resources and reduction of environmental impact, both within this industry and across a range of other commercial sectors including retail, construction and facilities management. Judged by the most senior experts in the sector, the winners were announced at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square hotel, on Thursday 6 November 2014.