news from BRE
published: 2/11/2004
Award winning waste GIS
BREMAP, a geographical information system (GIS) that helps construction firms deal effectively with waste, won the Awareness Raising/Education on Waste Minimisation Category at the Biffaward Awards 2004.
The Awards were held on 19 October at The Wetland Centre in London.
BREMAP combines information on recycled products, landfill sites, transfer stations, incinerators, recycling sites, reclamation companies, composting facilities and manufacturer take back schemes, in a simple, web-based format.
Presented on maps accessed via www.smartwaste.co.uk by typing in an appropriate post code, this information allows firms to reduce transport of bulky waste by locating the nearest, most suitable waste management site. It also highlights the availability of recycled or reclaimed construction materials and products in the vicinity of any site in the
The GIS had been submitted to the prestigious Biffaward national environment awards by BRE's waste and environment body, BREWEB.
After competing against four projects in the final round of the Awards, BREMAP was pronounced category winner by Ray Georgeson MBE, Director of Policy and Evaluation for the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), who said, 'This project makes a valuable and effective contribution to improving the sustainability profile of the construction sector - an area where much progress is needed - with an effective design and working in partnership with stakeholders, BREWEB has produced a really useful tool that will help effect changes in practise.'
Gilli Hobbs of BREWEB who received the Award of £2,500 and an exclusively designed trophy said, 'I am so pleased to get this award, especially in the face of the other fantastic projects. This will greatly help promote our BREMAP service which turns map based information into construction and demolition reuse and recycling, whilst encouraging minimum road miles.'
For more information contact Gilli Hobbs - 01923 664856, Email hobbsg@bre.co.uk
Notes for editors
Photographs from the Awards event are available from harveyt@bre.co.uk.
BREMAP GIS
BREWEB used a grant of £171,180 from Biffaward and the ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers) R&D enabling fund to develop the BREMAP GIS. The project aimed to encapsulate information on construction and demolition materials in a consistent format, providing a detailed breakdown of recovery facilities and their locations. Sustainable waste management is often dependent on the availability of recovery facilities and their location - the extra transportation of bulky and heavy materials by road can negate environmental benefits associated with the reuse and recycling of materials. The GIS system will allow the construction industry to locate the nearest and/or appropriate waste management facility for the type of waste being generated in any given location.
Biffawards
Hosted by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, the Biffaward Awards acknowledges the achievements of projects supported by the fund and highlights the diversity of environmental work undertaken, thanks to funding through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. The Biffaward Awards received RSA accreditation in 2003 to highlight the Awards as a quality environmental awards scheme. This year's trophies have been designed and produced exclusively for the Awards by 'up and coming' designer
BREWEB
BREWEB is BRE's Waste & Environmental Body. It facilitates ongoing environmental improvement in the waste and construction industries by the use of landfill tax sponsorship in high-profile demonstration and research projects. www.breweb.org.uk
BRE
BRE is the
BRE is owned by the BRE Trust a Registered charity (no. 1092193) with a mission to champion excellence and innovation in the built environment for the benefit of all. www.bretrust.org.uk
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