Waste Management Guide
Site waste is harmful both to the
environment and your business. To help tackle site waste, Defra has introduced
Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs). They are now a legal requirement in
England for construction projects. Below is an introduction of what's involved
and what you need to do.
What are Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs)?
A SWMP provides a structure for waste delivery and disposal at all
stages during a construction project. Its purpose will be to identify:
Who will be responsible for resource management.
What types of waste will be generated from the project.
How the waste will be managed (reduced, reused or recycled).
Which contractors will be used to ensure the waste is dealt
with responsibly and legally.
How the quantity of waste generated from the project will be
measured.
Is my organisation affected?
If you are in the construction industry within England, take note! For
any organisations planning a project which will cost over £300,000, a SWMP
is mandatory.
Benefits of a SWMP
Having a SWMP will prevent you from the risk of prosecution which can be
damaging both in the short-term and long-term when considering the impact on
your organisation’s reputation. Also, by having a SWMP, any queries from
environmental regulators or the local council regarding waste can be answered
simply and easily; saving you time and money.
Beyond this, SWMPs are designed to protect the environment. They do this by
helping to manage and reduce the amount of waste that construction projects
produce and that means less waste going to landfill (20% of materials on site
can be saved according to the Government’s latest research.).
There are many other environmental benefits, including less harm to the local
environment, less fly tipping, reduced energy consumption and a greater take-up
of recycled materials.
An effective SWMP will also save your organisation money. By managing your
materials supply more efficiently you will be able to cut costs. Also, better
storage and handling of materials reduces waste and enables better recovery;
whilst recycling/reusing materials will eliminate previous disposal costs.
Demonstrating to you clients how you can cut costs is a further benefit of having
a SWMP.
How do I create an SWMP?
NetRegs have launched a website which includes a guide on creating a SWMP, a
registration form to keep updated on laws and a quiz to test your current knowledge
of current environmental law. Visit
www.netregs-swmp.co.uk for more information.
How can I keep up-to-date?
You can keep up-to-date with current and future environmental legislation by
visiting the NetRegs (a partnership between all of the UK’s environmental
regulators) website.
> Get up-to-date with NetReg
Where does ISO 14001 fit in?
Certification to the Environmental Management Standard (ISO 14001) will ensure
you meet all of your legal obligations in relation to the environment and help you
resolve site specific issues. Increasingly, ISO 14001 will also help you to qualify
for new tender opportunities and help to both avoid breaching new legislation and
save you a substantial amount in waste costs. Your organisation could be opening
doors to new markets and making a powerful statement about its environmental
credentials too!
Find out more about ISO 14001 today and save money whilst boosting your business
prospects.
> Read more about ISO 14001
certification
The British Assessment Bureau's reputation was
established in 1969 and we achieved pre-eminent status
in 1997. Today we are a revered UKAS accredited
Assessment Body with an enviable reputation for customer
service.
As well as providing certification to internationally
recognised standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, we
provide bespoke assessment services for people, services
and organisations of all sizes.
For more information visit
www.british-assessment.co.uk.
What are Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs)?
A SWMP provides a structure for waste delivery and disposal at all
stages during a construction project. Its purpose will be to identify:
Who will be responsible for resource management.
What types of waste will be generated from the project.
How the waste will be managed (reduced, reused or recycled).
Which contractors will be used to ensure the waste is dealt
with responsibly and legally.
How the quantity of waste generated from the project will be
measured.
Is my organisation affected?
If you are in the construction industry within England, take note! For
any organisations planning a project which will cost over £300,000, a SWMP
is mandatory.
Benefits of a SWMP
Having a SWMP will prevent you from the risk of prosecution which can be
damaging both in the short-term and long-term when considering the impact on
your organisation’s reputation. Also, by having a SWMP, any queries from
environmental regulators or the local council regarding waste can be answered
simply and easily; saving you time and money.
Beyond this, SWMPs are designed to protect the environment. They do this by
helping to manage and reduce the amount of waste that construction projects
produce and that means less waste going to landfill (20% of materials on site
can be saved according to the Government’s latest research.).
There are many other environmental benefits, including less harm to the local
environment, less fly tipping, reduced energy consumption and a greater take-up
of recycled materials.
An effective SWMP will also save your organisation money. By managing your
materials supply more efficiently you will be able to cut costs. Also, better
storage and handling of materials reduces waste and enables better recovery;
whilst recycling/reusing materials will eliminate previous disposal costs.
Demonstrating to you clients how you can cut costs is a further benefit of having
a SWMP.
How do I create an SWMP?
NetRegs have launched a website which includes a guide on creating a SWMP, a
registration form to keep updated on laws and a quiz to test your current knowledge
of current environmental law. Visit
www.netregs-swmp.co.uk for more information.
How can I keep up-to-date?
You can keep up-to-date with current and future environmental legislation by
visiting the NetRegs (a partnership between all of the UK’s environmental
regulators) website.
Where does ISO 14001 fit in?
Certification to the Environmental Management Standard (ISO 14001) will ensure
you meet all of your legal obligations in relation to the environment and help you
resolve site specific issues. Increasingly, ISO 14001 will also help you to qualify
for new tender opportunities and help to both avoid breaching new legislation and
save you a substantial amount in waste costs. Your organisation could be opening
doors to new markets and making a powerful statement about its environmental
credentials too!
Find out more about ISO 14001 today and save money whilst boosting your business
prospects.
The British Assessment Bureau's reputation was
established in 1969 and we achieved pre-eminent status
in 1997. Today we are a revered UKAS accredited
Assessment Body with an enviable reputation for customer
service.
As well as providing certification to internationally
recognised standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, we
provide bespoke assessment services for people, services
and organisations of all sizes.
For more information visit
www.british-assessment.co.uk.
