Last Updated: Sep 3
UK construction sites generate around 100 million tonnes of waste each year. It is estimated that up to 30% of materials that end up as waste have never actually been used. This not only represents a major waste of resources, but also a major opportunity for cost savings.
To help address this problem, new regulations which came into force in April 2008 mean that any construction project in England costing over £300k will need a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP).
The SWMP sets out how building materials, and resulting waste, are to be managed during the construction project. There will be two types of SWMP. Projects costing between £300 and £500k will follow a basic template, while those costing £500k or above will need a much greater level of detail.
A good SWMP can not only achieve substantial cost savings, but can also lead to better site management practices because of a tidier and cleaner site, compliance with waste legislation and, increasingly compliance with contractual obligations from both the private and public sectors.
The SWMP’s purpose is to ensure that:
- Building materials are efficiently managed.
- Waste is legally disposed of.
- Material recycling, reuse and recovery is maximised.
Useful advice and tools to help you with your SWMP can be found on the Netregs website . However, if you would like further help implementing your Site Waste Management Plan, please contact Jim Porter at the GBN on 01422 316661 or jim.porter@kirklees.gov.uk
