| The purpose of Site Waste Management Plans | | | | The template comprises a series of 14 steps, which |
| (SWMPs) is basically to provide accurate projections | | | | follow the construction lifecycle from pre-design to |
| for waste delivery and disposal at every stage of a | | | | project completion and review. Using the template will |
| construction project. By making predictions the hope | | | | enable contractors to develop key performance |
| is that the contractor will realise how expensive this | | | | indicators (KPIs) for waste and materials, and monitor |
| will be and then adjust his planning and, if necessary | | | | performance throughout the project. So the needs |
| and possible, the design - to reduce construction | | | | of the product override the ideals of the project and |
| waste disposal cost by minimising waste wherever | | | | thus this plan came together. |
| possible, and then also recycling the remainder. | | | | Ideally, you should draft your Site Waste |
| The plan should detail the production and | | | | Management Plan at the pre-planning stage of a |
| management of waste, including accurate details | | | | project. This allows you to extend the plan to include |
| showing quantities to be disposed of and recycled. | | | | design and buying of materials. There will be a large |
| From April 2007 in England, Site Waste Management | | | | number of smaller-scale economic and social projects |
| Plans. have been required on almost every site. But | | | | implemented by the PA. Many will begin immediately. |
| his is no matter as most local authorities are already | | | | The contractor must consider all aspects of creating, |
| requesting these as a part of planning permission | | | | implementing and reviewing a Site Waste |
| procedures. | | | | Management Plan. A robust tool is said to be available |
| SWMPs might just be the latest in a long line of UK | | | | by the originators of the 'SMARTWaste Plan'. This |
| government initiatives, but since most of the industry | | | | helps to forecast waste generation and using the |
| has clearly failed to tackle site waste voluntarily, it's | | | | integrated measurement system can help to identify |
| another piece of red tape to comply with. It might | | | | the type and amount of waste generated on site, |
| not be a popular move, but products and materials | | | | and the associated costs. |
| are expensive - as is landfill - so getting it right should | | | | Section 54 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and |
| benefit both the planet and UK contractor's pockets. | | | | Environment Act 2005 provided the necessary |
| (This regulation will be broadened to cover the whole | | | | powers for regulations to be made to require |
| of the UK in due course of time.) | | | | developers and contractors of construction and |
| Solving the problems of waste disposal touches many | | | | demolition projects to prepare site waste |
| vendors involved in the construction project including | | | | management plans. These plans must set out the |
| the owner (client), designers, contractors, etc. It | | | | arrangements for managing and disposing of waste |
| starts from making it a concern already at initial | | | | created in the course of the project. The Clean |
| stages of the project planning and continuing it | | | | Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill, published on 8th |
| through the design phase. Construction waste | | | | December 2004, provides the UK's Secretary of |
| planning and the laborious process of site waste | | | | State with powers to make regulations to require |
| characterization and volume prediction must now be | | | | developers and contractors to produce a written site |
| done in earnest. | | | | waste management plan for construction and |
| For the production of an SWMP for the largest | | | | demolition projects. A voluntary code of practice for |
| detailed plan will require familiarity with waste profile | | | | developers and contractors promoting SWMPs for all |
| preparation and compliance with waste acceptance | | | | construction projects is already in place, but |
| criteria compliance is required, as well as DOT | | | | regulations are expected in due course. From |
| transportation shipper certification. To make this | | | | October 2007, almost every site will require a SWMP; |
| easier there is a template, which supports standard, | | | | indeed many local authorities already encourage these |
| good and best practice in general construction, | | | | when granting planning permission. SECBE and other |
| housing and civil engineering projects, and this has | | | | organisations have managing series of workshops for |
| been developed by Halcrow, Costain, C4S, the NHBC | | | | building contractors and their clients across the region |
| Foundation and the BRE to support the industry in | | | | to explain the new rules. |
| developing their plans. | | | | |