In week 39, around 100 employees on the Fehmarnbelt project put their usual work on hold to collect and sort waste at Denmark’s currently largest construction site in Rødbyhavn. This was part of the annual Environmental Week held by Femern Link Contractors (FLC). Focus was, among other things, on training FLC employees in the art of sorting each piece of construction waste – with the aim of increasing the volume of waste that can be recycled in circular production of new products. By the end of the environmental week, all containers for the ‘mixed waste’ category were therefore permanently removed from the Danish construction site.
The gigantic Fehmarnbelt project construction site of over 300 hectares, equivalent to around 450 football fields, has several waste handling sites with containers for a multitude of different waste fractions. Including containers for mixed waste. But now the containers for mixed waste have been removed. This means that 100 percent of the waste from the Fehmarnbelt project’s large construction site in Rødbyhavn must be sorted into containers with each specific waste fraction, which can later be recycled in the production of new materials.
The best in class
“As Denmark’s largest construction site, we have a special responsibility when it comes to solutions and work routines that promote circular production and recycling,” says Kjartan Butzbach, Environmental Manager at FLC, and continues:
“We want to be the best in class when it comes to sorting waste, since many other companies look to us for inspiration and advice. Due to the size of the construction site, we can try different solutions in practice, we often have company visits, and we participate in lectures or panel debates ourselves, where we share our knowledge and experiences.”
The ambition to be among the best at sorting waste for recycling is supported by the many FLC employees who during the Environmental Week were informed about waste handling and trained in sorting. In addition to collecting and sorting waste on the construction site, they also visited RGS Nordic and Stena Recycling in Rødbyhavn to learn about the journey of waste on its way to being recycled and used in the circular production of new materials.
“The many participants in this year’s Environmental Week will help their colleagues to ensure that all waste ends up in the right containers. In addition, we have also employed an environmental expert with 25 years of experience in handling and sorting waste, who spends a large part of his working day on the construction site, conducting behavioural campaigns, and answering questions about sorting – based on the motto that every single piece of waste counts,” says Kjartan Butzbach.
It pays to sort and recycle
Sorting waste for recycling saves the planet from the extraction of virgin – and often scarce – raw materials, and circular production also reduces CO2-emissions from the extraction and transport of new raw materials. And according to Kjartan Butzbach, sorting waste can also provide a benefit to the bottom line. “It may require some changes in workflows and habits on the construction site. However, by doing so, you save the fee for disposing of mixed waste, and you earn money on some of the sorted waste fractions, as they are a resource that can be recycled in the circular production of new materials. So, there are only good reasons for sorting your waste,” emphasizes Kjartan Butzbach.
