REGISTRATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS MATERIALS PROMOTES REUSE
Our national infrastructure is a major user of materials: from copper in our power cables, to asphalt on our roads and metal in our railways. The aim is to reuse as much of these materials as possible. Rijkswaterstaat, Alliander, ProRail and Madaster are therefore joining forces to better register the use of materials in infrastructure projects. They will start with a learning environment; the ultimate goal is to create an online materials library, which should greatly simplify reuse.
If the materials and their properties, so-called materials passport, that have been used in a bridge or railway project are known, clients and contractors can reuse them more easily and in the best possible way. This contributes to the government’s goal of having a fully circular economy by 2050. In a circular economy, raw materials are used again and again without losing value.
INITIATORS START WITH LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
The initiators will start with this learning environment right away to gain more experience in practice with registering detailed information on materials. They will dive into what information is already available, what additional information is needed and how to manage it all. Rijkswaterstaat, Alliander and ProRail work together with Madaster, in view of the experience of this organisation with disclosing information on building materials in the real estate sector.
The learning environment will be used in a number of infrastructural projects. The projects cover various categories of infrastructure, including roads, waterways, railways and cables. Wherever possible, the projects will take place in cooperation with governments, contractors and consultancy firms to gain as much experience and knowledge as possible.
GOAL
The ultimate goal is to create an online library or cadastre of used materials in infrastructure projects. This will be accessible to other clients and contractors so that they are able to identify in which projects certain materials were used. This brings high-quality reuse within reach.
In May 2018, the experiences with the learning environment will be presented at a Madaster Infra seminar.
ABOUT THE INITIATORS OF THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
- Rijkswaterstaat is the executive organisation of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and works every day to provide for a safe, liveable and accessible Netherlands.
- As a network company, Alliander is responsible for the distribution of energy, such as electricity, gas and biogas and heat. Its main task is to distribute gas and electricity to consumers, businesses and institutions.
- ProRail is responsible for the railway network in the Netherlands and wants an even better, connective and sustainable rail network with attention to the impact on the environment and society.
- Madaster is an ANBI foundation (public interest institute ed.) focused on eliminating waste by registering and identifying materials. Madaster is run by representatives from several sectors of the economy.