| From April 2008 on Contractors in England shall have | | | | waste stream. |
| another legal requirement to comply with among the | | | | Construction is the single largest user of material |
| host of national and European regulations. The | | | | resources in the economy and generates 100 million |
| requirement is the provision of Site Waste | | | | tonnes of waste every year WRAP. Construction |
| Management Plans (SWMPs) which will be a legal | | | | firms are being urged to take early action on waste |
| requirement for all construction projects in England | | | | before the planned enforcement of Site Waste |
| over £300,000, after the 6th of April. | | | | Management Plans (SWMPs) next year so that they |
| On the face of it one would think that this would be | | | | are not overburdened when enforcement |
| just another pen pushing/PC keyboard keying burden, | | | | commences. |
| but the research says otherwise. In fact there is | | | | If they work as intended by the government, |
| evidence to suggest that the SWMPs should actually | | | | SWMPs should do a lot to change the construction |
| save the construction industry significant sums of | | | | industry's attitude to waste by raising the profile of |
| money in a manner which is also sustainable as it | | | | waste management planning. Defra held regional |
| results in reduced energy utilisation and a lower raw | | | | workshops for the construction industry during the |
| material consumption rate. | | | | consultation period at which a two way dialogue |
| Site Waste Management Plans should also help the | | | | helped to do just that. |
| construction industry to get maximum value out of | | | | But, don't forget that it is not all about cost saving |
| its waste and make better use of resources and in | | | | and sustainability for the government. Our English MPs |
| this way they will be moving towards more | | | | are also concerned about the small, but increasing |
| sustainable waste management. It will also expose | | | | amount of construction waste that is illegally dumped |
| the cowboys in the industry, and reduce fly tipping as | | | | or fly-tipped and which causes enormously bad |
| a result. | | | | publicity wherever locally it takes place. |
| These plans are cited as being extremely beneficial in | | | | The SWMP regulations will encourage contractors to |
| formalising a comprehensive recycling and waste | | | | recycle suitable spoil, demolition materials, prunings, |
| management strategy for each project. If they | | | | and surplus construction material arising from the |
| succeed in this they will become important tools for | | | | works on site to avoid the need to transport |
| the construction industry. Those that propound their | | | | materials. CIRIA are currently developing Best |
| use say they will be a good way to help businesses | | | | Practice examples of waste minimisation in the UK |
| be careful about how they use, store and dispose of | | | | Construction sector. Also, a SWMP, guidance |
| materials which at present usually only get | | | | document and a Code of Practice were launched |
| consideration AFTER all other factors have been | | | | back in July 2004 to help the construction industry |
| decided. | | | | face the major challenge of changes in waste |
| By taking early action on waste before the planned | | | | management legislation, including SWMPs. |
| enforcement of Site Waste Management Plans | | | | The purpose of SWMPs will basically also encompass |
| (SWMPs) contractors are said to be benefiting from | | | | a new site task to provide accurate projections for |
| significant cost savings, much to the surprise of all | | | | waste delivery and disposal at every stage of a |
| concerned. These Plans should provide a structure for | | | | construction project. Many will see this as very |
| waste delivery and disposal during construction | | | | burdensome. |
| projects, reduce waste going to landfill and increase | | | | SWMPs will apply to all construction work including |
| recycling rates on-site. | | | | preparatory work such as demolition and excavation, |
| The industry has been following a voluntary code of | | | | civil engineering and engineering projects, and |
| practice launched by DTI in 2004, but implementation | | | | projects involving maintenance, alteration and |
| has been patchy. Defra resolved that enforcement | | | | decoration of existing structures. Also to be included |
| would be necessary and has developed proposals for | | | | in the plans is the installation, maintenance or removal |
| the introduction of compulsory site waste | | | | of related services such as electrical, gas, water, |
| management plans in England. | | | | sewage and telecommunications. |
| Contractors seeking more information about the | | | | Conclusion |
| plans should read the latest news on construction | | | | The workload required to produce and maintain and |
| waste on the Department for Environment, Food and | | | | circulate the Site Waste Management Plan is |
| Rural Affairs (Defra) website. There is also guidance | | | | significant, but these actions are seen to be of great |
| for anyone working in building, demolition, civil | | | | value as an important tool for cost savings for |
| engineering or building trades on the UK | | | | construction companies and their clients, of all sizes. |
| Government's NetRegs website. It has also been | | | | The new enforceable provision of SWMPs should |
| possible to download the non-statutory guidance for | | | | provide another step in the quest to improve the |
| site waste management plans from the Defra | | | | environmental performance of all English construction |
| website (PDF) for some time, and before the | | | | contractors, and help them to meet regulatory |
| deadline for the new regulations this April there is | | | | controls, and reduce the ever-rising costs of disposing |
| likely to be updated information provided for | | | | of waste. |
| downloading.. | | | | The implementation of this statutory duty to prepare |
| Construction Waste | | | | construction site waste management plans will be |
| Construction and demolition waste accounts for | | | | starting very soon. We recommend that all |
| around 33% of controlled waste in the UK (over 100 | | | | construction professionals should familiarise |
| million tonnes/ year), making it the single largest | | | | themselves now with the Code of Practice. |