Legislation currently being considered by the government could make Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) a compulsory legal requirement in the UK by April this year.
Following the current trend of finding new means to reduce the nation’s waste output, this would mean all contractors undertaking projects worth over £250,000 would need to produce proof of a valid SWMP or face fines of up to £5,000. Both the Environment Agency and local councils would be responsible for enforcing the new measures.
However, whilst this proposal sounds like just another load of paperwork and more costly man-hours, the reality is that SWMPs could actually result in substantial savings. In fact, when the benefits are considered, many businesses could reap the rewards from implementing such plans even if they are not legally required to do so.
The purpose of SWMPs will basically be to provide accurate projections for waste delivery and disposal at every stage of a construction project. The plan should detail the production and management of waste, including accurate details showing quantities to be disposed of and recycled. Included in the legislation will be the need to ensure that any subcontractors employed to handle waste disposal on a project are environmentally focused and compliant with SWMP guidelines.
Even if the nature of your business does not stand to be directly affected by the implementation of compulsory SWMPs, it’s still a good time to start thinking about the benefits they could bring to you. For example, if you are bidding for a new contract and the client sees little difference between you and a competitor, then your ability to advise on – or even assist in the creation of - a SWMP for their specific project could give you a huge advantage in winning new business. Contractors will be obliged to make a named person responsible for the SWMP for the duration of a project, so the ability to offer guidance as a sub-contractor will obviously add appeal when it comes to reducing man-hours.
The government will issue detailed guidance if SWMP regulations come into force this April, but in the mean time, you can stay ahead of the game by reading further information on the government web site which can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/34boer. Alternatively, you may wish to attend one of the forthcoming ‘Site Waste Management Plan Events’ being organised by Envirowise. Below are some dates and venues:
Wednesday 20th February - Manchester
Thursday 21st February - Sheffield
Tuesday 26th February - Southampton
Wednesday 27th February - Weston-super-mare
Tuesday 4th March - Newcastle
Tuesday 11th March - London
For more information on these events, visit the Envirowise web site: http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/swmp.
What do you think about SWMPs? Maybe you have experience of them already? We want to hear your views. Get in touch with The Skip at the usual address.
