Reducing Waste by 25% and Improving Site Efficiency
Overview
Cruden is one of Scotland’s most established housebuilders, delivering hundreds of new homes and apartments each year across the Central Belt and Borders. With around 15 active construction sites at any time and a diverse mix of waste streams—from general waste and plasterboard to timber and 1100L euro bins—Cruden needed a reliable, compliant, and service-led waste partner to support both operational efficiency and sustainability goals. Hamilton Waste has worked with Cruden for over a decade, with the relationship expanding considerably as Cruden centralised its procurement function and sought to streamline its supplier base. Today, Hamilton Waste manages approximately 70% of Cruden’s construction waste requirements.
The Challenge
With multiple live sites, high material turnover, and mixed subcontractor teams, Cruden faces the same challenges as most major construction developers:
- Ensuring reliable, on-time collections to keep sites moving
- Providing audit-ready documentation for compliance
- Managing multiple waste streams efficiently
- Reducing waste output and improving segregation
- Educating subcontractors on correct disposal
- Understanding what happens to waste once it leaves site
Cruden wanted a partner with strong service levels, transparent reporting, and the capacity to support their sustainability programme—including waste minimisation and correct segregation.
Why Cruden Chose Hamilton Waste
Cruden’s Head of Buying, Andrew Charnock, explains that service was the single biggest priority:
“We require waste-disposal solutions that are cost-effective, dependable, sustainable, and fully auditable. A missed Monday-morning skip delivery can disrupt operations across the entire site. Exceptional service is therefore critical, and Hamilton Waste go the extra mile.”
Hamilton Waste’s reliability, communication, and geographic coverage—particularly across the East and increasingly the West—enabled Cruden to streamline suppliers and work with a waste partner aligned to their operational needs and sustainability standards.
Key reasons for extending the partnership included:
- Strong audit presence with waste transfer notes, duty of care documents and weighbridge
tickets sent with every invoice - Consistent, reliable service across multiple regions
- Transparent communication, even during industry-wide pricing shifts
- Excellent working relationships between account management and site teams
- Confidence in compliant processing after site teams visited the Smeaton recycling facility
Driving Improvements on Site
Working closely with their Hamilton Waste Account Manager, Cruden has implemented a range of on-site initiatives to improve waste segregation and reduce waste generation:
• Waste champions appointed on every site
• Clear signage and toolbox talks to educate teams and subcontractors
• Increased skip stream variety to ensure material separation
• Ongoing communication and guidance from their Account Manager
• Regular catch-ups to review performance and opportunities
These efforts, supported by Hamilton’s reporting and on-site engagement, have delivered significant impact.
The Results
- 25% Reduction in Waste Output Cruden has reduced its waste output by over 25% in the last 18 months, driven by better segregation, on-site education, and improved waste processes.
- Greater Visibility & Audit Readiness Hamilton provides all duty of care documents, weighbridge tickets and waste transfer notes with each invoice, streamlining Cruden’s internal admin process.
- Stronger Waste Culture Across Sites Improved housekeeping, better material management and education for subcontractors are now embedded into Cruden’s construction culture.
- Consistent Service Across 70% of Sites Hamilton Waste now services the majority of Cruden’s business— with very few complaints and strong satisfaction reported from site teams.
Looking Ahead
Cruden is exploring ways to bring more of its on-site teams to Hamilton Waste’s Smeaton recycling facility, helping further strengthen understanding of material recovery and waste reduction.
As Hamilton Waste continues expanding its geographic coverage, the partnership is expected to grow further, supporting Cruden’s commitment to responsible construction, improved site efficiency, and reduced environmental impact.
“The service we receive is excellent. We consistently get the correct paperwork, communication is clear, and we have very few issues raised from site. It really does tick all the boxes.”
Andrew Charnock, Head of Buying, Cruden
