International school demolition provides lesson in recycling

Transport Minister Keith Brown visited the £745 m AWPR/B-T project today to see the recycling efforts being made as part of the former International School of Aberdeen demolition.

Work is already underway to strip materials from parts of the school, which closed in 2010, with fuller demolition expected to take place during the school holidays.

Demolition of the school marks the first visible sign of construction taking place on this long awaited project and it is expected that more than 90 per cent of materials will be recycled.

Many items removed from the school have been auctioned off with the money raised offset against the cost to the project thus reducing costs to the public purse. Other recycled materials will be used during the main construction works, reducing the need for new materials as well as deliveries by HGVs.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said:

“With clear benefits of an expected 14,200 jobs and a £6 billion economic boost over the next 30 years, it is essential that we press ahead with this vital scheme as quickly as possible.

“The AWPR will improve journey times, reduce congestion and help open up wider markets for the regionally and nationally important economy of the north-east delivering benefits of both local and national importance.

“Demolition of the former International School of Aberdeen marks a visual sign of the very real progress made on the AWPR/B-T project in a very short space of time. Local communities and road users can now see physical work taking place to deliver this vital scheme for the north east.

“After years of delay, we should not underplay the need to ensure the current pace continues. As with any scheme of this nature, it is equally important we minimise the environmental impact of all operations, that is why we welcome the contractors efforts to recycle as much material as possible.”

Aberdeen City Council leader Barney Crockett said: "I welcome today's announcement that much of the former international school building will be recycled.

"The demolition is another major milestone in the construction of this long-awaited road which will have such significant economic impacts across the whole region."

Leader of Aberdeenshire Council Cllr Jim Gifford said: “As work gets underway on this particular project, we’ll be able to see the first signs of AWPR construction beginning, and it is pleasing to see that efforts have been made to re-use some of the materials from the school where possible.”