Three leading organisations involved in the construction industry have won top honours at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) Awards for Environmental Excellence, which recognise and reward best practice in the sustainable management of waste and resources and reduction of environmental impact.

The Genesis Project won the award in the Construction and Demolition Product Use category, while the British Airports Authority (BAA) took the prize for Construction and Demolition Site Management.   All the winners faced stiff competition in their respective categories.

The winners were announced at an event held at the Dorchester Hotel on London’s Park Lane on 31 October 2007.  The ceremony was hosted by BBC news presenter Sophie Raworth and the judges included Dr Liz Goodwin, chief executive of the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Owen Jenkins, director of CIRIA, and John Ingham, environment editor of the Daily Express.

Steve Lee, chief executive of the CIWM, said:  “If we are going to see real change in the way we manage our resources, including waste, every part of society has to be engaged. These awards recognise the efforts being made by public and private sector organisations across a range of industries to implement a more sustainable approach to waste and resource management, to reduce the environmental impact of their operations and to develop new products and practices that deliver a better environmental performance. We are also recognising individual ‘recycling champions’ who have made an outstanding personal contribution through work in their local communities.”

The Somerset based Genesis Project (www.genesisproject.com) consists of a series of buildings, each incorporating and demonstrating a range of environmental materials and construction techniques, including the straw pavilion, the earth pavilion and the use of recycled materials in areas such as wall and ceiling insulation.  It was constructed using sustainable materials, including materials re-used from the demolition of the site’s previous buildings. In addition, many of the buildings incorporate open cross sections so that visitors can understand the techniques used.

The Genesis Project impressed the judges because it provides venues for education and demonstration. They recognised its use of sustainable materials, the sustainability of the building itself and the fact that it minimises its impact on global warming.  The award was presented to Genesis by James Mackrill, environment, industrial & life sciences manager of Enterprise Ireland.

BAA won the Site Management Award for its management of the Heathrow Terminal 5 project, which also involved Laing O’Rourke, WSP Environmental and Ethos Recycling Ltd.
A dedicated “waste team” has managed the development of the project supported by BAA’s own “environment team” which has helped raise waste awareness and engage contractors and suppliers in environmental issues.

Over 97 per cent of the waste generated has been recycled or recovered and the project has achieved a constructing excellence benchmark score in the top two per cent for the volume of waste generated from a construction site.  The award was presented by Derek Lock, business development manager of category sponsor Fitzpatrick Contractors.

Steve Lee added:  “Our awards provide an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of, and reward, best practice. The standard of entries was very high, and the judging panel has had to make some tough decisions. My congratulations to BAA and the Genesis Project, to all today’s winners and also to all those companies and individuals who entered and reached the finals – every contribution in the battle to reduce waste and improve resource efficiency is important.”

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Issued on behalf of the CIWM by Smye Holland Associates

For further information contact:

Debbie Chivers or Mike Holland
Smye Holland Associates
Tel: 01733 564906
Fax: 01733 562051
E-mail: debbiec@smye-holland.com

Pat Jennings
CIWM Communications Office
Tel: 01604 620426
E-mail: pat.jennings@ciwm.co.uk