Site Waste Management Plans

Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) can be important tools for the construction industry, they are likely to affect anyone who is planning a construction project costing more than £250,000, any construction project clients or architects that produce, manage or dispose of waste, suppliers to the construction industry and environmental regulators, i.e. local authorities and the environment agency. SWMPs were originally introduced as a voluntary initiative but are now being made compulsory. SWMPs aim reduce the amount of waste produced on construction sites, prevent fly tipping, improve their environmental performance, meet regulatory controls and reduce rising costs of managing waste.^2,6 SWMPs are intended to change the construction industry's attitude to waste by raising the profile of waste planning.

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched a consultation in April 2007, a summary of response have been published indicating support for the proposal of statutory SWMPs, the respondents favoured the suggestion that the cost of £250,000 is to high and that SWMP would be of benefit in terms of improving resource efficiency.⁴

There are two levels of SWMPs - standard and detailed, the standard SWMP (pre Defra consultation) will be for projects costing between £250,000 and £500,000. The detailed SWMP will be for projects costing more than £500,000 and will require more detailed reporting. If the project has a higher estimated value (over £500,000), the SWMP must be further updated to include the identity of the waste required by section 34 of the EPA 1990, Duty of Care.¹

DTI (now BERR) published a guidance document that gives nine important steps to producing a SWMP (Pre Defra's consultation April-July 2007)

Step 1 - Identify who is responsible for producing the SWMP and ensuring that it is followed. Every SWMP must include details of the person who drafted it, the person in charge of the project and (if one has been appointed) the contractor's identity (if there is more than one contractor, details of the principal contractor must be included).

The SWMP must be kept either at the sire office or, if there is no site office at the site, for at least two years after completion of the project

Step 2 - Identify the different types and quantities of waste that will be produced by the project at all stages

Step 3 - Identify the waste management options and note any changes in the design and materials specification that seek to minimise this waste, consider how to re-use, recycle or recover the different waste produced by the project

Step 4 - Identify waste management sites and contractors for all wastes that require the companies to demonstrate that they are complying with the duty of care regime and recording the quantities of waste produced.

Step 5 - Implement and carry out any necessary training of internal and external staff to ensure that everyone understands the requirements of the SWMP

Step 6 - Plan for efficient materials and waste handling and do this early enough bearing in mind any constraints imposed by the site and its location. It must also describe the construction works proposed, including the location of the site and estimated value, and record decisions made before the SWMP was drafted on the nature of the project, its design, construction method or materials employed.

Step 7 - Measure the quantity and type of waste produced and compare these against SWMP to ensure that the wastes are managed properly and to learn lessons for next time a SWMP is produced. All figures should be recorded on the datasheet.

Every time waste is removed from the site the SWMP must be updated with further information, including the type of waste removed; the site the waste is being taken to and the identity of the waste management contractor removing the waste. The principal contractor must also record on the SWMP within a month of completion a statement confirming that the plan has been monitored on a regular basis to ensure that work progressed in accordance with the plan.¹

Step 8 - Monitor the implementation of the SWMP to ensure that it is being followed, and to be prepared to update plans if circumstances change.

Step 9 - Review how the SWMP worked at the end of the project and identify learning points for when attempting again.^3,6

Local authorities and the Environment Agency will enforce SWMPs and they will impose penalties for failure to make, keep or produce a SWMP. The statutory legislation comes into force in April 2008.^4,5

References

1. Contract Journal. Site Waste Management Plans. http://business.highbeam.com/410604/article-1G1-177629352/site-waste-management-plans-q
2. Environment Agency. Netregs. Site Waste Management Plans for the Construction Industry. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/netregs/businesses/construction/62359.aspx
3. Envirowise. Site Waste Management Plans. http://envirowise.wrap.org.uk/uk/Our-Services/Publications/GG899-Site-Waste-Management-Plan-SWMP-Regulations-Guide-.html
4. Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Non Statutory Guidance on Site Waste Management Plans.
5. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/construction/pdf/swmp-guidance.pdf
6. Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) DTI Site Waste Management Plans. Guidance for Construction Contractors and Clients. Voluntary Code of Practice. http://www.wrap.org.uk/construction/tools_and_guidance/site_waste_management_planning/site_waste.html

http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/site_waste_management_plan.f492a16a.2323.pdf