SWMPs in the spotlight

More than two years after they became mandatory for some projects, the Environment Agency is set to begin inspections to ensure compliance with Site Waste Management Plans.

Since April 2008, construction projects valued at more than £300,000 have had to complete SWMPs before starting work.  These are meant to detail how much waste a site will produce, in what form and whether it will be reused, recycled or disposed of.

The plans were introduced to encourage better waste management.  A significant quantity of construction waste - over 100 million tonnes - is produced annually of which around 25% is sent to landfill.  The sector is also blighted by illegal dumping.

The new legislation saw construction firms across the UK embarking on programmes to ensure that relevant projects were accompanied by SWMPs, including engaging external consultants to provide training and templates.

However, inspection of construction projects to ensure complaince with SWMPs has been lacking, leading to some construction businesses to complain to the Department for the Environment about what is seen as an unnecessary regulatory burden.

Responsibility for ensuring that plans are completed rests jointly with the Environment Agency and local councils.  However, each has largely left the matter with the other, meaning that very little inspection activity has taken place.

The Agency is now piloting a scheme of joint inspections in the south east of England around Bedfordshire. The trials will involve visiting sites and checking compliance with all waste regulations, including SWMPs.

If you are a construction company working on a qualifying project or projects, or a client that has commissioned construction work that meets the necessary conditions to require a SWMP, now is probably a good time to make sure your projects benefit from a plan and that it is being adhered to.

If you'd like some help putting together a simple, effective Site Waste Management Plan - including help selecting and managing waste contractors in support of your project to maximise reuse and recycling opportunities - why not contact us today to see if we can help?