World Demolition Awards shortlist - Recycling and Environmental

World Demolition Awards shortlist - Recycling and Environmental

(PHOTO: Ward Demolition)

Colemans
PROJECT Environmental Efficiencies in Demolition
CLIENT Not disclosed

Colemans was tasked with carrying out the soft strip, asbestos removal, structural demolition and site clearance of several buildings in the United Kingdom.

The company set up a Carbon Cutting Project team, led by its BREEAM Appointed Person, and during the project implemented a robust Pre-Demolition audit that identified 29 different project waste streams, of which 98% could be recycled or reused if outlets were identified. It also utilised solar-powered security systems, a rainwater capture system for dust suppression, an eco-welfare cabin with rainwater harvesting technology, electric company vehicles, and alternative fuels to power its equipment fleet.

Additionally, 68,000 t of site won material was used for grading the site, rather than importing virgin or recycled aggregates, and 60% of the structural steel on site was removed in a way that allowed it to be reused in a circular approach.

Drumderg Services
PROJECT Newcastle Car Park
CLIENT City of Newcastle

Drumderg Services was contracted to remove a deteriorating, seven-storey car park located in Newcastle’s Central Business District. The structure was built in the 1960s and consisted of concrete-encased steel columns that supported split-level, suspended waffle-pod concrete slabs.

With asbestos present on the underside of each one of the seven storeys of suspended slabs, amounting to 22,000 sq m (236,000 sq ft) various remediation methods were implemented on the project. These included the meticulous removal of the asbestos fibre-cement waffle pods, the design of a robust water management system for decontamination and reuse, and the employment of unobtrusive demolition methodologies.

A total of 1,489 t of hazardous waste was removed from the structure, enabling the 9,949 t of material remaining to be recovered. The project’s final resource recovery rate was 99.86%, primarily thanks to the applied hazmat remediation processes.

Erith Contractors
PROJECT 120 Fleet Street
CLIENT Chinese Estates

Situated within the City of London, the project involved the separation and protection of the Daily Express Building, which was granted Grade II listed status, and the subsequent demolition of the ten storey River Court superstructure. Partially rebuilt and altered over the decades, the original River Court building dated back to the 1930s and comprised ten storeys with a double storey basement.

The building had a steel frame structure with composite slabs and reinforced concrete retaining walls and rafts. Erith provided a significant enabling works package for the redevelopment of the site. Concurrently with the superstructure demolition, which was completed using a top-down method, Erith carried out specialist diamond drilling works, the installation of retaining wall propping and hydrodemolition. A circular economy approach led to 99.46% of non-hazardous waste being diverted away from landfill.

Rye Group
PROJECT Carbon neutral demolition
CLIENT Not disclosed

In 2020, Rye Group set out on a path of Sustainability, with the goal of reaching a 90% reduction in carbon emissions by the end of 2023. By conducting carbon audits, switching from diesel to HVO, and investing in new plant and machinery, telematics and training, this goal was surpassed a year early, by the end of 2022.

Rye subsequently offset the residual 8% of carbon emissions produced, making it the first, and only, carbon neutral demolition company in the UK. Alongside these efforts, Rye recycles and reuses 98% of materials across all its projects.

Ward Demolition
PROJECT Super Yachts
CLIENT Sensation Yachts/Goodman

When “Sensation Yachts” went into liquidation, Ward Demolition was tasked with clearing its business site, that comprised four large sheds and office blocks. However, the true challenge lay in rescuing and preserving a 49.5-m (160-ft) Superyacht, the SY32, which had languished on the premises for eight years. One of three half-built yachts that had been abandoned, the SY32 was the only one that could be spared demolition.

Ward Demolition moved the yacht to a neighbouring shed, making way for the site’s demolition to commence and for efforts to find the ship a new owner to begin. Over the course of a year and a half, the company installed the yacht’s engine room, extended and reshaped the hull, and extensively renovating the interior. Ward salvaged 100% of the materials from the other two abandoned yachts, repurposing any unused parts into the SY32 and selling other elements to fellow boat builders. Any remaining scrap materials were recycled at local recycling yards, ensuring minimal environmental impact.