ACS
Actividades de Construcción y Servicios

Construction

The main effect of Construction activities on the environment relate to the generation of inert waste, made up of construction and demolition waste, and excavated soil. Whereas the greater part of construction and demolition waste is produced mainly at building works, excavated soil is present in larger volumes at civil works, and mainly at infrastructure works, such as, inter alia, highways and roads.

In accordance with the guidelines of the National Construction and Demolition Waste Plan and Regional plans, as well as the principles of the European Union's Sixth Environmental Action Program, the measures of ACS are focused on the 3 R's: Reduce-Reuse-Recycle”.

Reduction is aimed at the minimization of waste at the source, by proposing alternatives to customers which favor this reduction.

Reuse is based on the location of sites where the excess waste can be used either in other nearby works, in the restoration of weathered areas, or by third parties: These options are to be exhausted before dumping the water into controlled deposits or specific authorized dumps.

Recycling, applied to several types of construction and demolition waste, such as ceramic, petrous, wood, metal, plastic and cardboard waste is focused on building works. Furthermore, it is increasingly more common to recycle pavement or structures at civil works, by treating the aforementioned waste on-location for its subsequent use in the new infrastructures.

Another environmental impact of special significance in the construction sector is the emissions to the atmosphere.

Firstly, dust and particle emissions resulting from, inter alia, the demolition of buildings and structures, the movement of soil, and the circulation of machinery, are of significance. These emissions are minimized by adopting practices such as the watering of lanes, paths, entrances and exits or by limiting the speed of vehicles used on work sites.

Secondly, the use of machinery creates pollutant gas emissions (CO₂, CO, NOX, SO₂) some of which cause the greenhouse effect. To contribute to the commitment arising from the Kyoto Protocol, to reduce or limit greenhouse effect gas emissions, the ACS Group adopts practices such as the appropriate maintenance (preventive and corrective) of machinery and the correct use thereof, which allows for the reduction of emission sources.

Additionally, a number of preventive practices are adopted to eliminate or minimize other possible environmental impacts arising from the performance of works, such as the prevention of the pollution of inland maritime water and sea water; the prevention of the pollution of land resulting from the use of oils and fuels; the protection of natural species, both flora and fauna, and of course, the protection of human beings.