Site Waste Management Plans. What are they?

Construction firms are being urged to take early action on waste before the planned enforcement of Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) next year. A recent study by the environmental website Net Regs showed that of 402 small construction businesses surveyed , 66% were unaware of what the plans were, while 60% didn't realise they would become a legal requirement in April 2008.

For those 66% who don't know a SWMP provides a structure for waste delivery and disposal at all stages of a construction project, it includes:

• How the waste is managed – is it reduced, reused or recycled?
• Which contractors are used to ensure the waste is correctly recycled or disposed of responsibly and legally
• How the quantity of waste generated from the project is measured.

Still confused well don't worry help is at hand as Envirowise gives details of 9 FREE SWMPs events that will be taking place across England. Click here for the dates and locations.

Remeber from April 2008, any construction project over £250,000 in value that is unable to provide evidence of a SWMP could be fined.