Waste Awareness Course - 05 February 2010

We are running a course on the 5th February entitled "Waste Awareness"

Those people should attend whose work practices produce waste or those who need greater understanding of waste principals. However, anybody who disposes of or deals with waste will benefit from this course to help improve their own and their organisation's environmental performance.

The course is aimed at providing employees with the knowledge and information sources to help your company minimise waste and stay within the law.

On completion, participants will be able to: distinguish between different types and classifications of waste; explain the importance of legislation in promoting best practice in wastes management; explain the basic principles underpinning the Duty of Care and how their actions are important and describe the key stages in conducting a waste audit.

The Course includes:

* Different types of waste
* Legal responsibilities
* How to conduct a waste audit to identify cost savings
* How to reduce, reuse and recycle waste
* Learn about disposal routes for remaining wastes
* Deal with waste safely
* Identify sources of help

To book your place(s), please contact Harpreet.

Pedestrian has lucky escape as lorry demolishes footbridge

In Turkey yesterday there was one very lucky pedestrian crossing a footbridge over a motorway.

A lorry was traveling along the motorway when the back suddenly raised into the air. The driver didn't realize in time and went ploughing into the bridge completely demolishing it.

It's amazing no one was hurt and no other vehicles were around to be showered in rubble. What's even more bizarre is the BBC video of the accident is only available on the CBBC website! Visit the link below to watch it and keep your eye on the pedestrian in the top left hand corner.

Source: CBBC

Turkey seems to be quite an accident prone country and many of you may remember this incident from march last year:

Apple introduce the iPad

Although this is a website focused on demolition, we all use mobile gadgets every day and the iPhone must sit in a few of your pockets. So we thought it was appropriate to give you a heads-up on the latest device from the boffins at Apple.

Apple announced their next killer gadget yesterday and called it the iPad. It is not a replacement for the iPhone and it won't do phone calls. What it is meant to offer is a one stop device for all your media (music, video, books), and a replacement for the newspaper.



It has a 9.7" touchscreen display, measures on 0.5" thick, and has a battery that lasts 10 hours (30 days standby time). UK pricing has yet to be announced, but prices start at $500 in the US going up to $829 for the top model. There will also be an optional contract for unlimited data across the mobile network AT&T for $30 a month. In the UK that will likely mean £30 a month and £600+ for the device.



Why would you want one of these devices? Well, if you do a lot of reading on the go, need to respond to e-mail, enjoy your daily newspaper, and also want to surf the web, then iPad will do it all, and with a footprint much smaller and lighter than a laptop.

We won't know specifics about a UK launch until June I believe, so start saving now if you want one. For now just enjoy the pictures and videos. You can also learn more about the device on the Apple iPad website.

Earls Court may be demolished after Olympics

One of the most well-known venues for exhibitions and music events may be facing demolition once the 2012 Olympics are over.

Earls Court in London has been visited by most people attending an exhibition of some sort, but now it looks likely to disappear as re-development is planned.

Demolition of the site would not see a new exhibition centre erected, however. Revenue has fallen and ownership has passed to developers Capital and Counties. The likely plan is to turn the site into 8,000 homes.

Such a plan cannot happen until after the 2012 Olympics as Earls Court is being used for the volleyball tournament.

There's still a couple of years to go until the Olympics though, so a lot could happen and Earls Court may be saved. It is also thought the Olympia exhibition venue will stay and see further development.

Source: New Civil Engineer

Government carbon emission targets require plenty of UK demolition

Demolition across UK cities could be about to rise dramatically according to comments made by Paul Morrell, the Government's chief construction advisor at the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills.

The reason is that the Government has a bit of a dilemma to solve. In order to achieve tough new carbon emission targets (an 80% reduction by 2050) many of the buildings from the 60s and 70s need to be modified to cut down on their energy use. However, some of those building can't improve enough and therefore demolition and rebuilding is the only course of action to take.

Morrell commented to The Times:

"In the Sixties, everything was built cheaper, faster and nastier. If you are going to try to fix buildings, then really you won’t have too many problems with anything built earlier than the Fifties or after the Eighties.

Although you can do some things to buildings from the Sixties and Seventies, like replacing the roofs, there are probably some places that need to come down entirely.

The buildings that pose the most difficulties are semi-industrialised, highly inefficient, badly insulated and so ugly that they are not worth refurbishing."

Source: Times Online with thanks to Demolition News

Rush for new schools means more "sound and thoughtfully designed" buildings being demolished

English Heritage is desperate to see a number of classic buildings saved from demolition due to a rush to build new schools.

It is thought instead of taking the time to restore existing buildings the demolition option is being taken and quick new builds are replacing them.

The Partnership for Schools team, which has a £20 billion programme for rebuilding, also seems to be failing on promises. Half of that budget is meant for restoration work, but Building Design magazine carried out a survey that found 70% of the projects are new builds.

The reality seems to be that in a rush to provide more schooling facilities the government and local government is destroying perfectly good and beautiful old buildings.

Lady Andrews, chair of English Heritage, said:

"Local education authorities need to strike the best balance between replacement and refurbishment. The latter is often the more environmentally sensitive and effective solution. It uses the assets of the community, minimise requirements for new materials and cut demolition waste. It also helps to reinforce people's sense of belonging and local identity."

Source: The Guardian