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Read More>>Waste Management for construction sites - New Proposals
A consultation period on construction site waste management has just closed and a summary of responses is expected shortly with new regulations coming into force in April 2008.
It is a fact that a considerable amount of waste is generated on all construction projects. This waste ends up in landfill. It is estimated that 90million tons of waste is generated in construction and demolition projects each year. Of that, 34% comes from packaging and materials delivered to site. There is considerable potential for financial savings if much of this waste were either recycled or steps taken to minimise waste.
The intention is that all construction projects with a value of more than £250,000 will be required to have a site waste management plan (SWMP).
This plan will identify the different types of waste that will be produced on the project and it then has to consider how to either reuse, recycle or recover the waste produced and, also keep a record of the amount of waste that is produced.
These plans are intended to be enforced by the local authority and the environment agency who will have the authority to impose penalties for the failure to produce and comply with such a plan.
These regulations will require major changes to the way sites are run especially as one person will be assigned with the responsibility of maintaining such a plan and ensuring a plan is complied with. Guidance has already been produced on ways to tackle waste, and with the pressure on landfill and the need to minimise the amount that is sent for waste, this means that companies will need to radically assess their procurement processes.
Sarah Shemmings
August 2007