A revolutionary road-building product could help prevent hundreds of tonnes of waste a year in the UK, and save the average construction company thousands of pounds a year.

As a re-usable alternative to timber profiles, the Cross-Bone is designed to have an immediate and measurable impact on waste reduction, which will help companies to meet official Quality, Environmental, Health and Safety (QUENSH) targets.

Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) are now a reality on almost every construction site, and have become a legal requirement since April this year. By using Cross-Bones again and again, the construction industry could automatically cut the amount of waste and expensive waste disposal traditionally produced by timber profiling.

The robust, ready-to-use Cross-Bone system, with parts made from long-life, nylon-reinforced, recycled plastic, can also reduce material and labour costs. With no need for nails or splintering wood, they can also lower the risk of on-site injuries. Visible in all weathers, and presenting a uniform, professional and modern approach, Cross-Bones promise to improve a company's image too helping it to adopt best practices and raise industry standards.

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Marc Wouda, Senior Engineer Roads, Alfred McAlpine Project Services comments: "We have set up a few profiles using the cross-bone system. It is definitely quicker than the traditional method. I am very impressed with the set up and my site engineer is also very happy with it. The benefits of it are very easy to spot from a time point of view."

Another user of the product, Jason Spencer of Costain Ltd, explains: "I found the system very easy to use and much quicker than the conventional wood profile system. It will also act as a massive saving on money for the timber and wood, which would normally be used. I think this is a very good system."

The Cross-Bone is manufactured and marketed by design company, Thirty Design Ltd. It is the result of two years' extensive development by Managing Director, John Turner, who first came up with the concept while working as a civil engineer.

Mr Turner said: "Recycling, important as it is, is not the same as waste minimisation, which is reducing waste at source or not creating it in the first place. By using Cross-Bones, companies can instantly reduce the amount of on-site materials that need to be bought and disposed of. And because waste costs money, typically up to 4% of business turnover, there's also the potential for increased profits.

"The amount of needless waste produced on sites always appalled me when I worked as a site engineer. As I was closely linked with timber profiles and their eventual disposal it was here that the idea first originated. I thought there had to be a way of stopping this carefree dumping of unwanted timber. The reusable concept was born and shortly after its potential was recognised with a University of Brighton Innovation Award."

(CD/NS)