And with nearly 50,000 construction enterprises in Scotland, creating over four million tonnes of waste a year, Midlothian’s largest RSL has called on other landlords to follow its lead.

“Delivering good value for money is an important part of what we do as a business,” said Melville’s chief operating officer, Morag MacDonald. “And working with our contractors to help them improve their efficiency can only be good for us all in the longer term, bringing down costs, making businesses more competitive and helping the environment.”

Involving not only construction companies but also those that carry out external wall insulation, kitchen and bathroom replacements and general repairs, the workshop set out how companies can improve their bottom line by becoming more efficient, reducing the waste they produce and finding better ways to manage industry by-products.

“The session was excellent and went down very well with those who attended,” added Morag. “One contractor was so impressed that they’ve already signed for a more detailed Zero Waste Scotland review of their practises. I’d thoroughly recommend it to our colleagues across the housing sector.”

Zero Waste Scotland’s Resource Efficient Scotland programme supports small and medium-sized enterprises across all parts of the industry to identify opportunities for reducing waste and saving money.

“The programme helps remove barriers across the construction process from design to site management with hands-on support, impartial assessment and access to funding,” said Paul Adderley, Resource Efficient Scotland technical advisor, who led the workshop.

Iain Gulland, chief executive, Zero Waste Scotland, said: “In Scotland, the construction sector is responsible for producing nearly half of the country’s waste. Through our engagement with the industry we know that many businesses share our vision of maximising resource efficiency, and keeping costly waste to a minimum.

“Many of the materials used in construction projects retain their value throughout their lifetime, so the opportunities to maximise the financial value of assets while also minimising environmental impact are huge. I would encourage any business in the construction supply chain to take part in a session like this one, or contact our Resource Efficient Scotland advice and support programme directly.”

Through its Resource Efficient Scotland programme, Zero Waste Scotland can support contractors through every stage of the construction process from planning and design to project sign off. The help and support they provide includes on-site evaluations, constructing a business case and accessing loans, training, workshops, and help with grants. Find out more at www.resourceefficientscotland.com.

Zero Waste Scotland’s advice and support for the construction sector, delivered through its Resource Efficient Scotland programme, is supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the £34 million Resource Efficiency (H&I and LUPS) operations.