Site Waste Management Plans

When we first heard about Site Waste Management Plans (SWMP), we thought 'What has this got to do with a health and safety company?' However, having been asked to advise clients what needs to be done to comply with the legislation and the spirit of the new regs, we investigated and found that there are many parallels with our existing work: The CDM Regulations are in effect to ensure that planning and design can reduce or avoid risk of accidents or ill health and SWMPs are to ensure that planning and management can reduce waste significantly.

Some facts about site waste:
1. The average 8 cubic yard skip costs around £150
2. The average of what's being chucked in that skip is £1,500 - £1,600
3. Cost of waste at a typical site is £43/m³
4. 10.4 million tonnes of construction products are wasted every year, at a cost of £1.5 billion (amazingly, 10% of materials bought new end up in a skip!)
5. A reduction of 10% of this would save £m150 and 1 million tonnes of product every year
6. Fly tipping costs the UK tax payer £63 million each year

The NEW FACT is 'Waste not, Want not': The EA have the authority to lump a fine (up to £50,000) on any project that doesn't have an up to scratch SWMP. [OK, we're listening. So what is it all about?]

The idea is that using a SWMP, waste is minimised by ensuring that a plan is developed from the start and then figures collated through the life of the project and then the achievement v forecast is reviewed after completion.

The plan becomes more effective when the hierarchy of waste management is applied: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Dispose.

Think about quantity accurately; re-measure and minimise the amount of waste you produce e.g. Bricks

e.g. Extra Bricks are reused to build a brick wall or brick structure

e.g. Bricks are crushed to produce sub base for a road

e.g. Some of the bricks are coated with lead paint. These are disposed of, at a suitable landfill site.

Considerations:
•Can you purchase materials with less or returnable packaging?
•Can you pre-order materials to specification?
•Has sufficient storage space been created to allow segregation when it arises?
•Reduces the wastage of new materials through damage or over ordering
•Using reclaimed materials on site, to reduce the overall cost of materials
•Achieve cost savings by reclaiming materials and using them on the project or recovering some value by selling them on.

What needs to be done?
•Design Phase:- Provision of pre-construction information on waste management decisions and quantities for the site waste plan/draft it.
•Before construction starts:- Site waste management plan written down and in place.
•During Construction:- Reviewing/Refining site waste management plan
•During Construction:- Take reasonable steps to ensure that waste is managed properly
•At project completion:- Retention for 2 years of site waste management plan

Who needs to complete a Site Waste Management Plan and when?
It is the duty of a client to ensure that a SWMP is developed for any project where the total value of the project is over £300,000. For projects over £500,000 in value, a more detailed plan is required. The client may appoint a competent 'Waste Champion' to oversee the process on their behalf. The good news is that this can all help save a lot of money!

Waste Champions
BSA has developed a SWMP checklist which may be of help. We are now also able to help clients discharge their responsibilities by acting as the Waste Champion: Developing plans alongside designers, overseeing the management of waste records and reviewing the plans with design teams, client and contractors after project completion. By appointing BSA, you ensure that development of a SWMP is done quickly and effectively so that real benefits are generated as well as simply keeping within the legal requirement to produce a written plan. Call 01483 467270 or email bsims@bsims.co.uk to discuss your needs.

We are including an introduction to Site Waste Management Plans in our 2010 BSA Seminar season - see our Events page for more information.