It is estimated that each year the UK generates around 10 million tonnes of construction waste from commerce and industry. Not only can this type waste be costly to businesses, but it can also have a detrimental effect on human health and the environment.
Under the Site Waste Management Regulations, all construction, refitting, refurbishment and demolition projects, costing over £300,000 (exc VAT) require a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) [1]. Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) are an important tool for construction companies and their clients, of all sizes, that can help them to: improve their overall environmental performance; meet regulatory controls; and, reduce rising waste disposal costs [2]. For organisations working on much smaller projects costing less than £300,000, SWMP’s are not a legal requirement, however, they can still be used to bring about the benefits to both the organisation and the wider environment. This article will take a closer look at site waste management plans and the best way to formulate one, as well as taking into consideration their potential advantages.
Formulating a Site Waste Management Plan
Step 1 – Plan Effectively
It is important that you plan your site waste management plan effectively right the way from the design stage of your project. During the design stage you are able to prevent and reduce significant amounts of waste being generated in the first place. For example: You could purchase materials with less or returnable packaging; you could pre-order materials to specification; you could create sufficient storage space to allow wastes to be properly segregated as they arise on your site [3]. Also, take into consideration the potential to reuse any materials generated on your site, for example, could you reuse excavated soil to landscape an area of your site?
Step 2 – Responsibility
It is possible for a small group of people to be involved in delivering the plan, however, it is imperative that one individual is given the overall responsibility of the SWMP. It is also important that whoever is given the full responsibility of the SWMP clearly understands their responsibilities and has the authority to ensure others will cooperate.
Step 3 – Identify Your Waste
Identify the types and quantities of waste that your project will generate at all stages. Think through every stage of the project and work out in advance: what materials will be used; how much waste will be produced [4]. Also, set yourself realistic targets for how much of that waste you have estimated your project to generate, you can reuse, recycle or dispose of.
Step 4 – Identify How to Manage Your Waste
Work out all of the options you have for recycling and disposing of all the different types of waste your project site is going to produce. Make sure you know where, when and what sort of materials you can reuse, recycle or dispose of both on-site and off-site. Also make sure that if you are using waste disposal contractors to dispose of your waste, they are carrying and disposing of your waste both safely and legally. It is important to ensure that:
- Anyone carrying waste away from your project site is a registered waste carrier with your environmental regulator.
- Any sites receiving waste from your project site have an appropriate permit or license from your environmental regulator that allows them to receive waste.
Check with your environmental regulator for registered waste carriers:
- Environment Agency – Public registers – www2.environment-agency.gov.uk
- SEPA – Registered waste carriers – www.sepa.org.uk
- Northern Ireland Environment Agency – Registered waste carriers – www.ni-environment.gov.uk
Step 5 – Carry out Training
It is important to carry out the appropriate training to all members of staff to ensure that everyone understands the requirements of your SWMP.
Step 6 – Measure your Waste
When your project is underway it is important that you keep your SWMP updated when any waste leaves your project site. You should aim to: keep track of all movements of waste within and from your site; record the types of waste taken, who removed the waste and where they took the waste. When updating your SWMP, is also important that you:
- Measure how well the plan is working by assessing the type and quantity of waste that is produced.
- Take measurements so you can compare with future projects, for example Volume (e.g. number of full skips), Value (e.g. cost of disposal), Weight (e.g. weighbridge tickets returned to you).
- Record your waste costs against Value of project, Area of build floor space, Volume of building.
- Track your progress by Updating your data sheet regularly, Revising your data sheet if circumstances change [5].
Potential Advantages of Using a Site Waste Management Plan
- You can save time and effort through use of a SWMP as it will enable you to answer any questions or queries any environmental regulators and/or local authorities may have regarding your waste.
- You can prove your environmental performance through use of a SWMP, giving you a strong advantage in the tendering process.
- You can ensure that you are disposing your waste safely, and more importantly, legally.
- You can gain a better understanding of how your waste is managed, therefore, you can identify where to save money and reduce costs.
- You can improve your reputation as customers can see that you are proactively seeking to help the environment.
- You can manage your resources and waste much more effectively on site so that they are less of a risk to the environment.
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[1] http://www.enviros.com/PDF/new/SiteWasteManagementPlansbriefingnote_BN009.pdf
[2] http://www.greenspec.co.uk/documents/waste/sitewastemanagement.pdf
[3] http://www.netregs-swmp.co.uk/simple-guide.pdf
