Avondale have recently developed an innovative waste system L.O.W.D (Live On-line Waste Data) on which we have a patent pending.  This system was initially utilised on a  Skanska project where we made the Trade Contractors take greater responsibility for their waste through a computerised waste monitoring system. Subsequently we were nominated for Skanska’s ‘Green Solutions’ award for this system and have implemented the system on further projects.

The LOWD system was designed to support our Clients environmental requirements for the accurate monitoring of construction waste produced on each of their specific project. LOWD is an online secure waste data process using the latest mobile phone technology to interface real-time waste data on to a live web-page. Taking full advantage of its mobility, LOWD can immediately assign waste and weights to a Trade Contractor, instantly publishing the information to a live, secure website. This patent pending solution was developed in response to our Clients (typically members of the UKCG) concerns regarding: -

1. Trade Contractors failure to fulfil their contractual duties to clear their waste generated on previous schemes
2. Distrust of the reliability of Waste Transfer Stations recycling reports (not being project specific).

The system involves a Personnel Digital Assistant (PDA) used to issue out the wheelie bins to the individual Trade Contractors. The barcode on the bin is scanned; the Trade Contractor is allocated on the PDA and the operative taking the bin(s) on behalf of the Trade Contractor signs for its receipt on the PDA. All bins are labelled with industry standard signs to encourage and improve segregation of waste. When the Trade Contractor returns the bin it is scanned by the PDA again to ensure the correct bin is being returned. The bin is then weighed on the platform scales within the Waste Compound and the weight recorded on the PDA which also records the relevant waste stream being returned. The Trade Contractor’s representative is again asked to sign the PDA to confirm their agreement to the weight recorded at this time. The PDA immediately synchronizes wirelessly with a desktop computer which has the waste management software installed. It enables you to easily monitor the amount of waste being generated by each Trade Contractor and the streams of waste being generated. Our system gives real time reports as opposed to the traditional monthly Waste Audit report issued.