Griffith College Expansion Case Study

Griffith College - Construction & Operational Waste Management and Design for a College

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Water & Ecology

Industry

Higher Education

Location

Ireland

AWN Consulting was appointed to prepare waste management documentation to support a planning application for a proposed masterplan at Griffith College, South Circular Road, Dublin 8. The development includes new teaching and learning buildings, learning commons facilities, building extensions and associated campus infrastructure works. AWN’s commission was to provide specialist waste management input in line with national and local planning policy and best practice guidance.

The scope of services comprised the preparation of a Construction and Demolition Resource Waste Management Plan and an Operational Waste Management Plan. These documents were developed to accompany the planning submission and to demonstrate how waste would be managed during both the construction phase and the operational life of the campus. The plans addressed legislative compliance, waste prevention, segregation, storage, collection and reporting, with a clear focus on supporting circular economy objectives.

AWN worked on with the project team to ensure that the waste strategies were functional, robust and aligned with National, Regional and Local requirements and guidance. The resulting reports provided a clear and auditable framework to support decision‑making during design, construction and future campus operations.

Challenge

The principal challenge for the project team was the need to address waste management across multiple project phases within a constrained and operational campus setting. The proposed development involved demolition, refurbishment and new‑build elements, each with distinct waste streams and management requirements. These had to be addressed in a coordinated manner within a single planning submission.

In parallel, the Operational Waste Management Plan needed to account for the continued operation of the college and the anticipated increase in student numbers following completion of the masterplan. This required careful consideration of waste storage capacity, segregation arrangements and collection frequencies, while ensuring compliance with current legislation and Dublin City Council bye‑laws.

The absence of specific national guidance for operational waste management plans in Ireland added further complexity, requiring AWN to apply professional judgement informed by policy, legislation and best practice. The waste strategy also had to demonstrate alignment with national circular economy objectives and local planning policy, while remaining practical for facilities management staff to implement on a day‑to‑day basis.

Solutions

AWN adopted a structured and evidence‑based approach to the preparation of both the Resource and Waste Management Plan and the Operational Waste Management Plan. The construction phase plan was prepared in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency guidance and set out clear measures for waste prevention, segregation, reuse, recycling and off‑site management of materials.

For the operational phase, AWN reviewed the proposed development layout and assessed anticipated waste arisings using a waste generation model informed by building use, floor areas and relevant waste data. This enabled the development of a proportionate strategy for waste storage, collection and segregation that could be accommodated within the existing and proposed campus infrastructure.

Throughout the process, AWN worked as part of the wider design team, providing advice on waste storage locations, access and collection logistics. The plans clearly set out roles and responsibilities, legislative context and implementation measures, ensuring that the strategies were understandable and usable by future contractors and facilities management staff. The final documents provided a transparent framework that could be updated as the project progressed through construction and into operation.

Services Performed

AWN Consulting, a Trinity Consultants team, prepared a Construction and Demolition Resource Waste Management Plan and an Operational Waste Management Plan to support the Griffith College campus masterplan expansion in Dublin. The team provided waste modelling, design-stage coordination, and planning-focused waste management strategies that addressed both construction and long-term campus operations while supporting regulatory compliance and circular economy objectives.

Construction Environmental Management

Alternative Fuels, Raw Materials, and Beneficial Reuse

Waste Regulatory Compliance

Results

The waste management documentation prepared by AWN formed part of a comprehensive planning submission for the Griffith College masterplan. The plans demonstrated compliance with national waste legislation, Environmental Protection Agency guidance and Dublin City Council requirements, supporting the robustness of the application.

By addressing both construction and operational phases, the project team was provided with a clear roadmap for managing waste throughout the lifecycle of the development. The plans identified practical measures to maximise segregation, recycling and recovery of materials, while ensuring that sufficient storage capacity and collection arrangements were incorporated into the campus design.

The outcome was a set of clear, implementable documents that can be used by contractors during construction and by facilities management staff during operation. These plans support Griffith College’s ongoing compliance obligations and align the development with wider circular economy objectives. AWN’s input helped reduce uncertainty at the planning stage and provided a strong foundation for sustainable resource and waste management as the campus continues to evolve

Trinity has helped me train our staff and navigate the complexities of hazardous waste permitting and compliance with ease and efficiency. They have always delivered high-quality work on time and are very responsive and thorough whenever I’ve had any questions or concerns. I highly recommend Trinity to anyone who needs an advocate for agency interaction and reliable assistance with their hazardous waste management and permitting needs.

Director of Environment & Sustainability | Hazardous Waste Company