Legislative pressure is being placed on the construction industry to reduce the production of site waste. Pressures to reduce construction waste are far reaching - from legal demands, the security of supply of raw materials to increased disposal costs.
Waste in the UK
- 90% of non-energy mineral extraction in the UK is used for construction
- Every year construction activities produce approximately 1.45 tonnes of waste for every person living in the UK
- That equates to 25% of all waste generated in the UK
- 28 million tonnes)* of that is made up of completely unused building materials.
The Landfill tax escalator means that the standard rate of tax for active wastes (those that give off emissions) will increase by £8 per year from 2008 until at least 2010/2011 (from £24 in 2007 to £48 in 2010)** .
With the increasing costs of sending waste to landfill there is a need to be proactive about managing construction waste, particularly regarding construction activities. New legislation was introduced in April 2008 in England which requires construction activities costing over £300,000 to produce a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP). It is anticipated that these regulations will soon be extended to cover the rest of the UK.
What is a SWMP?
A Site Waste Management Plan identifies waste streams, responsibilities, and ways to monitor waste during construction developments. An SWMP is required before a project commences; the SWMP works towards reducing the amount of waste produced. A SWMP will affect anyone planning a construction project costing more than £300,000. SWMPs will also affect construction project clients, suppliers or architects that produce, manage or dispose of waste.
A SWMP will
- Ensure responsibility is defined
- Identify waste streams produced during the project
- Consider how to re-use, recycle or recover those wastes
- Monitor and record the quantities of waste produced, and;
- Demonstrate compliance with the duty of care regime.
The principal contractor will usually take responsibility for writing and implementing the SWMP which will be a standard or detailed version. A standard SWMP is for projects costing between £300,000 and £500,000 and the detailed SWMP will be for projects costing more than £500,000 and will require a more in-depth plan. SWMPs will be enforced by both the Environment Agency and local authorities who will impose penalties to those who fail to produce a SWMP and keep it up to date.
Benefits of a SWMP
The use of a SWMP at every stage of a project ensures a reduction in waste before construction starts, controlling what were previously regarded as hidden costs. The plan can also act as an excellent opportunity to demonstrate sustainable business objectives to stakeholders, clients and employees.
