Waste, Recycling and Materials

Ballast Nedam takes a whole-life-cycle view of waste, which means we look upon waste as the result of design, purchasing and implementation choices.
Our policy is directed towards eliminating waste and limiting material consumption. In that way we also avoid unnecessary environmental and other costs.

We adopt a dual approach:

• Quantitative: we reduce the quantity of waste structurally at the source by improving material productivity; we prevent waste by improving processes and innovating.
• Qualitative: we reduce the adverse effects of waste. This means we avoid resource depletion by using renewable and/or secondary materials. We combat pollution by using degradable and/or reusable materials and optimizing waste management procedures where possible.

At the beginning of 2013 we introduced Ballast Nedam waste management plans. On the basis of a fixed format, the project team can draw up a detailed waste management plan for the implementation phase of a project. The format comprises seven stages, in which the whole chain is closely involved and the contribution of suppliers, subcontractors and waste processors is included at an early stage. That leads to the creation of a joint waste management plan that is tailored to the project. At the end of 2013 there were 26 in use; in 2014, waste management plans were in use at 35 ongoing projects.

For more information, we refer to our integrated annual report.