That’s according to the 2012 sustainability report published by project client, Crossrail Ltd.

More than 98% of excavated material is being recycled, with the vast majority being used to create to a nature reserve for birds at Wallasea Island in Essex.

Between January 2009 and March 2012, a total of 68,000 tonnes of waste was generated as a result of construction works and a total of 125,800 tonnes was generated from the demolition of buildings. 95% of the construction material generated and 97% of the demolition material generated was reused or recycled.

Crossrail shief executive Andrew Wolstenholme said: “Crossrail is setting new standards ranging from recycling and energy efficiency through to future rail operations. Among our innovative approaches to sustainability has been the arrangements we have established to recycle more than six million tonnes of excavated material - more than two thirds will help build a new RSPB nature reserve in Essex. We are seeking to minimise the number of lorry journeys by using rail and water transport wherever possible, helping to limit our impact on the environment and the community around our worksites. We are also looking to the future and considering the future energy requirements of the new railway including the new stations and trains.”

Case study: Limmo Penninsular

At the tunnelling site on Limmo Peninsula in east London, contractor Dragados Sisk encountered waste on the site that included timber sleepers, concrete and old tyres in addition to contaminated soils.

Solutions were found to reuse or recycle 98% of the 120,000 tonnes of waste material there. Concrete was crushed to use as fill material, timber was shredded to use as chipboard, tyres were shredded to use in equestrian gallops and scrap metal was recycled.

Any contaminated soils were cleaned, mixed with growing agent and used to remediate a landfill site.

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