Centralising Waste Intelligence For A Smarter Infrastructure Sector
Construction firms across the UK are grappling with a growing need for accurate waste reporting, heightened scrutiny from clients and strengthened regulatory expectations. McCann Ltd, a major contractor working across national highways, rail schemes and airport infrastructure, has stepped forward with a digital-first strategy by partnering with Qflow to transform how waste data is gathered, verified and analysed.
The company’s previous reporting systems captured only 27 percent of total waste spend, leaving critical blind spots in sustainability tracking. With public and private-sector clients demanding comprehensive, evidence-based reporting at tender stage, McCann recognised that traditional manual processes could no longer keep pace with portfolio-wide requirements.
Qflow’s technology platform, launched across McCann sites in November 2025 for an initial six-month trial, has been selected to tackle this challenge at scale. The move reflects a broader industry shift toward intelligent, integrated data ecosystems that support environmental targets, improve efficiency and create a foundation for long-term carbon reduction.
How Digital Capture Strengthens Waste Management
At the core of the implementation sits Qflow’s mobile app, a tool designed to streamline the collection of Goods Received Notes and Waste Transfer Notes using simple photography. Site teams can capture documentation in seconds, with the platform digitising every entry, enriching missing fields and verifying compliance in real-time.
A standout feature is the automated check against the Environment Agency’s nine Duty of Care points. This enables instant identification of non-compliant waste movements, reducing risk exposure and supporting accountability at each project stage.
The platform consolidates all information into a centralised data repository. For McCann, this means clear, contract-level visibility across multiple live infrastructure projects. Data once scattered across spreadsheets, email chains and paper files is now presented as structured, actionable intelligence that feeds both sustainability strategies and operational decision-making.
Meeting Client Expectations In A Competitive Marketplace
Clients are increasingly evaluating contractors on their ability to demonstrate robust sustainability performance. McCann’s environmental team had previously managed waste reporting manually, a system that worked effectively in smaller volumes but became burdensome as the company expanded.
Eleanor Morton, Environmental Manager at McCann Ltd, underlined the importance of the shift: “Our focus is on streamlining how we gather and centralise project data, particularly around waste, so we can provide greater visibility and drive continual improvement in carbon performance.”
Detailed, accurate waste data is no longer optional in tender submissions. It has become a differentiator, particularly for large-scale public-sector work governed by stringent environmental frameworks. McCann’s move towards digital capture positions the firm to respond more effectively and with confidence backed by verified data.
Collaboration Behind The Technology Adoption
The relationship between McCann and Qflow began within an industry net-zero working group, where the contractor first encountered the platform’s integrated approach to compliance, quality and environmental intelligence. Several technologies offered niche capabilities, but Qflow’s ability to unite multiple datasets under one interface stood out.
The app’s usability was another factor. Minimal training requirements ensured that teams could adopt the system without disrupting workflows. Early engagement focused on solving a key operational challenge: the correct allocation of waste tickets to individual contracts. Qflow worked closely with McCann’s teams to design a practical method that ensured every data point was recorded accurately.
This collaborative ethos went beyond standard vendor–client arrangements. It demonstrated a willingness to tailor digital solutions to real-world site conditions, a factor that often determines whether new technology succeeds in the construction environment.
Operational, Financial And Sustainability Gains
The introduction of Qflow is expected to deliver gains across multiple areas of McCann’s operations. Enhanced data quality means project managers can analyse trends more effectively, identifying inefficiencies, risks or opportunities for improvement. Leadership teams also gain portfolio-wide intelligence that supports strategic planning and programme control.
Administrative efficiencies form another major benefit. The reduction in manual data entry frees staff time for higher-value work, improving productivity while reducing operational overhead. These savings will become more pronounced as the system scales beyond the initial trial period.
For sustainability reporting, the impact is even more significant. Digital capture provides auditable evidence of waste movements and material use, supporting the company’s carbon performance commitments. Clear, verifiable data strengthens trust with clients, delivery partners and regulators.
Carl Lancaster, Operations Director at McCann Ltd, highlighted the value of this partnership-driven approach: “Our approach to innovation and digital transformation is rooted in partnership. By working closely with Qflow, we’re not just adopting new technologies, we’re reimagining how we deliver value across the business. Together, we’re combining data-driven insights with practical, real-world application to create solutions that are sustainable, scalable and future-ready.”
Building A Digital Foundation For Future Infrastructure Delivery
Beyond immediate gains, McCann’s long-term ambition is to use digital tools to create continuous improvement pathways. By centralising waste intelligence, the company can establish meaningful benchmarks, track performance year-on-year and set measurable sustainability targets supported by reliable evidence.
Eleanor Morton reinforced this direction: “Data and digital tools are crucial for modern construction. They enable efficiency, better risk management, sustainability tracking and smarter decision-making. Qflow is helping us build a more resilient, forward-thinking business.”
Qflow’s ability to feed into McCann’s existing management systems ensures compatibility with wider digital workflows, supporting seamless integration without interrupting operational delivery. This ease of adoption will prove valuable as the business develops stronger data analytics capabilities across its entire infrastructure portfolio.
Strengthening Industry Performance Through Better Data
Waste management has often been a difficult area for the infrastructure sector. Fragmented documentation, inconsistent verification and the sheer scale of major projects make reliable tracking challenging. The McCann-Qflow partnership reflects a national momentum toward digitising environmental reporting as part of the transition to low-carbon construction.
By tackling waste compliance and data visibility head-on, McCann is setting a precedent for contractors seeking to boost sustainability credentials while unlocking operational gains. The trial phase is expected to inform a wider rollout, offering a framework that other organisations may adopt as digital transformation becomes inseparable from infrastructure delivery.
A Sector Moving Toward Intelligent Waste Strategies
The construction industry is under increasing pressure to reduce waste, cut carbon and support the UK’s environmental commitments. Reliable data is the foundation for all three. McCann’s collaboration with Qflow represents a timely step toward delivering smarter, cleaner and more accountable infrastructure projects.
With client scrutiny rising and regulatory requirements tightening, digital waste management is quickly becoming a strategic necessity rather than an optional enhancement. McCann’s proactive approach places the company at the forefront of this transition, demonstrating how technology can drive tangible, measurable improvement across every stage of infrastructure delivery.
