Waste

Our overarching approach to waste is one of resource circularity; from tackling waste at the end of tenancies through reuse platforms and challenging standard industry dilapidation practices, to ensuring our food market at Duke of York Square is single-use plastic free.

Target 6 Zero non-hazardous waste to landfill and 90% recycling by 2030

Waste management is split between development activities and estate operations. Volumes of waste vary much more in construction, with a very high recycling rate easily achievable. Here, we are focusing on increased data quality reporting from smaller contractors and development sites and reducing waste generation overall through investment in reuse. Recycling rates in operations are much harder to improve, with the waste coming from our occupiers and public realm. Here, we are focusing on education and engagement, and provision of the most suitable waste streams to each location – especially targeting food waste as a major source of emissions.

In 2021 we saw a 7% increase in the Estate’s operational recycling rate to 45% and maintained a 98% recycling rate for construction waste. We expect to see significant improvements in our recycling rate in 2022 with an overhaul of our waste management strategy, introduction of new waste streams and increase in retailer and restaurant engagement.

OPERATIONAL WASTE VOLUMES OVER TIME BY DESTINATION (TONNES)

1,883

63% 1,429

63% 1,867

55%

37% 37% 45%

2019 2020 2021 CONSTRUCTION WASTE VOLUMES OVER TIME BY DESTINATION (TONNES)

61,624

98% 409

14,866

4,173 77% 98%

2019 2020 2021

CASE STUDY

DUKE OF YORK SQUARE SINGLEUSE PLASTIC FREE MARKET

Working in partnership with our local retailers and market traders, Duke of York Square Fine Food Market has reduced the use of single-use plastic to become virtually single-use plastic free. In conjunction with providing suitable waste disposal facilities and guidance on what materials to use, we are taking learnings from this project into supporting our occupiers on Pavilion Road move towards a single-use plastic free environment.

Right

Duke of York Square Fine Food Market

Below

Dr Bike at Duke of York Square

CASE STUDY

EXPLORING REUSE

To improve resource circularity and minimise material loss from retailer fitouts and redevelopment works, we trialled a community reuse platform to donate items of furniture for local reuse. In 2021 we disposed of over a tonne of waste through this route: 41 items which supported over 80 people, predominantly in education and training sectors.

Challenges included public access to a live construction site, lack of interest in items beyond furniture, and time intensive management, which made this a very useful learning experience. As a result, we have engaged with a panel of reuse facilitators to suit different situations, and tackled waste arising from leases by adjusting dilapidation processes and proactively addressing potential waste through tenant engagement and our green leases. We look forward to continuing to innovate with partners across our value chain to improve circularity.