Knowsley-based Forshaw, which carries out essential works on properties damaged by fire or flood, is looking  to help the construction industry become more sustainable. Tony McDonough reports

Merseyside restoration specialist The Forshaw Group (TFG) is pledging to help the construction industry to clean up its act and encourage waste recycling.

Knowsley-based TFG, which carries out essential works on properties damaged by fire or flood across the UK, has partnered with the national social enterprise Recycling Lives to assist with site clearance and debris removal.

With an annual spend on skips and waste clearance in the region of £70,000, by collaborating with Recycling Lives, TFG will benefit by providing better social value – approximately 10% of the value of the contract and increased sustainability for the environment.

This partnership also coincides with The Forshaw Group’s 2021 vision for embracing environmental measures, positive diversity, and collaboration with social enterprise, as part of the World Economic Forum roadmap for The Great Reset to benefit people, the community and planet.

According to the UK Green Building Council, the construction, demolition and excavation industry accounts for 60% of the UK’s material use and waste creation. This can be up to 100m tonnes of waste from this one industry each year, 32% of which can end up as landfill.

Managing director of TFG, Liam Hanlon, said: “This new venture will help us to make a big difference in reducing the amount of general waste which some of our services can produce.

“Being part of a sector which generates a huge amount of waste materials each year, it is our responsibility to reduce and reuse and recycle as much as we can. There are multiple benefits of recycling and reusing waste materials, not least for minimising pressure on the environment and avoiding landfill.

“By integrating the innovative Recycling Lives total waste management system into our infrastructure, this will also allow us to reduce CO2 emissions and bring our company one step closer to reducing our carbon footprint.”