zero-to-landfill
We help to protect the environment and save our clients money
We pride ourselves on being environmentally conscious, taking every possible opportunity to incorporate and promote sustainable practices as we strive to achieve our “Zero to Landfill” policy using all design and treatment techniques available. Here are a few examples of how we achieve this:
3D Terrain Modelling
Pinnacle use the latest 3D terrain modelling software on projects. This process allows the finished levels to be carefully manipulated to minimise the volume of materials imported or exported from site. This works together with the environmental mapping of the sub soils and allows the most efficient earthwork packages to be delivered to our clients and has resulted in significant savings to the overall build costs.
Hard SuDS
Recycled plastic underground attenuation tanks (hard SuDS) are a successful alternative to permeable paving (and other soft SuDS), which may require removing perfectly good material to landfill. Implementing a tank, made from post-consumer plastic waste, does not restrict the use of the development site, as some soft SuDS can. This system typically has a 95% voids ratio, so less site excavation is required to accommodate the surface water attenuation, resulting in less demand on landfill and in some cases this can be contained on site. This product requires fewer transportation vehicles with a positive impact on the wider environment in terms of reduced carbon and the disturbance to residents in the local environment.
Soil Stabilisation
Soil stabilisation designs can often be used consisting of soil mixing techniques as an efficient method of recycling and strengthening poor quality and contaminated soils and reduce the need for removal to landfill. This value engineering solution not only provides a suitable, solid platform on which to found the building slabs and vehicular pavements, but also provides significant cost savings on a project by minimising expensive importation of granular materials quarried from natural sources.
Retaining Materials
Elements of existing buildings on brown-field developments can be retained on site, sorted and reused in their current state following demolition, e.g manhole covers and gully gratings, etc. Materials can also be modified for an alternative use, e.g concrete and masonry being crushed and graded, then reused for engineering material. Consideration throughout the design stage is also given to the reuse of the existing drainage, in particular the outfalls from the development. Existing hard standings are considered during the level strategy design stage, by leaving in situ and forming a foundation for new surfacing.
Pinnacle is fully focused on sustainability
Pinnacle continues to obtain recommendations for new business based on our focus and ability to put sustainability at the heart of our design.
“We understand the importance of looking after our planet and know that our clients want to work with consultancies that also have the environment at the top of their priorities…”
PAUL KEATING PRINCIPAL ENGINEER,
PINNACLE