A good practice guide to recycling window waste aimed at window replacement, conservatory and building maintenance and renovation companies has been launched by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme).

The publication, Recycling Your Window Waste: A good practice guide, is designed to provide window fabricators, installation professionals, site managers and other professionals working in the housing sector with practical guidance on how to recycle window waste.

Research commissioned by WRAP has found that there is up to 500,000 tonnes of flat glass waste arising from buildings in the UK every year. At present very little of this waste is recycled, however, the potential is considerable and growing.

This new two-part guide highlights these potential recycling opportunities and the potential cost savings. Clear financial advantages can be gained by reducing waste disposal costs and recycling segregated glass, PVC-U and metals found in window frames. In addition, ‘‘good environmental credentials‘‘ are increasingly being seen as a key factor in purchasing decisions, providing marketing opportunities to generate new business. The domestic replacement window sector is one of the UK‘‘s main sources of glass waste, with around 6.8 million window units replaced each year. These units account for around 190,000 tonnes of waste, including 90,000 tonnes of glass and substantial amounts of timber, PVC-U and other frame materials