Environment and NRS

We have a strategic objective to care for the environment and have set a number of environmental targets, including carbon reduction. Our Environmental Management System is certified to the ISO14001 standard, click here to view our Environmental and Sustainability Policy. We have recently won awards for the great work we have done.

We have an in-house Recycling Service (NRS) to increase recycling and reduce our carbon footprint. We are able to produce an approved Appendix 9 Type 1 sub-base equivalent recycled and stabilised aggregate. We supply our product to clients and industry partners as well as using it ourselves to dramatically reduce our impact on the environment.

In 2016, we engaged the Carbon Trust to enable us to better understand our carbon footprint and how to manage carbon across our business. They have helped us to reduce our carbon emissions and increase resource efficiency. The Carbon Trust produced an Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme plan. This plan provided a detailed breakdown of the business’ current energy consumption and waste production before recommending areas for improvement.

As a result of the Carbon Trust plan we are focussed on two areas to reduce our carbon impact; energy and fuel use.

Some great examples of activities we’ve introduced as a business are:

Activity	Benefit
Invested in our fleet to ensure that we have an efficient, reliable and modern fleet.	Our current average fleet age is less than 20 months.
We installed fuel bowsers in our depots to build resilience in our delivery capability and save money on the fuel purchased.	Fuelling in our own depots saves circa 50,000 miles a year and associated CO2.
Implemented road ramps which enable us to deliver road crossings in one visit eliminating the need for grab support to deliver road plates to site.	Road crossings in one visit has reduced HGV mileage by over 70,000 miles a year and associated CO2.
Developed and implemented new trailers which carry additional signs, lighting and guarding, reducing the need for additional support vehicles.	We have reduced over 10,000 miles per support vehicle per annum and associated CO2.
Rolled-out power invertors to all grab wagons	We’ve eliminated the need for petrol burning generators.
Introduced an advanced vehicle tracking system which provides us with detailed management information. This system tracks driver behaviour which in turn informs and influences fuel economy.	To date, over 900 vehicles have been fitted with vehicle tracking systems.
Established a ‘carbon calculator’ for larger construction schemes.	The carbon calculator enables us to measure carbon impact from start to finish of projects.
In house Recycling Service	We recycle up to 97% of our excavated materials.
Invested in electric vehicles, and trialled electric plant such as mini diggers	Electric plant and fleet reduces carbon emissions.

Network Recycling Solutions (NRS)

Previously called GRS, Network Recycling Solutions (NRS) creates a recycled aggregate from utility trench arisings. This HAUC approved recycled aggregate helps us to achieve our environmental objectives by diverting waste from landfill and reducing our carbon footprint.

Please find below our Salford WRAP Protocol and our latest results.

NRS Salford WRAP Protocol