What is a Site Waste Management Plan

(Please note that the

following is about the

new legal SWMP requirements

for the United Kingdom 

only after 5 April 2008.)

What are SITE WASTE Management Plans (SWMPs)?

They are plans which must drawn up by construction site contractors for all (UK) construction sites where the value of the construction work will exceed £300,000.

What is the Purpose of a SWMP?

The idea is that when a project is planned there shall be detailed thought given to applying the waste heirarchy:

• Avoid waste - in building this could be achieved by carrying out a renovation rather than a complete demolition and rebuild.
• Minimise waste - avoid creating the waste (such as crush and recycle concrete on site and use it as an aggregate in the concrete for the new buidling on the site). That way no waste is created, and the aim of minimising waste is met.
• Recycle - that is find another use for materials (for example collect materials such as glass and return them to a central processing point where the glass may be melted and used to make new bottles).

Who are SITE WASTE Management Plans (SWMPs) likely to affect:-

• anyone who is planning a construction project costing more than £300,000

• any construction project clients or architects that

• produce, manage or dispose of waste

• suppliers to the construction industry

• environmental regulators, ie local authorities and the Environment Agency.

SWMPs were originally introduced as a voluntary initiative but are now being made compulsory. The aim is to:

• change the construction industry's attitude to waste by raising the profile of waste planning
• reduce the amount of waste produced on construction sites prevent fly-tipping
• improve environmental performance
• meet regulatory controls
• reduce the rising costs of managing waste.26

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched a consultation in April 2007. A summary of responses has been published indicating support for the proposal of statutory SWMPs. Respondents favoured the suggestion that the threshold of £250,000 was too high and that SWMPs would be of benefit in terms of improving resource efficiency.

What are the Levels of SWMP According to Project Size?

Standard SWMP (pre-Defra consultation) - for projects costing between £250000 and £500000.

Detailed SWMP - for projects costing more than £500,000 and requiring more detailed reporting. If the project has a higher estimated value (over £500, 000), the SWMP must be further updated to include the identity of the waste required by section 34 of the EPA 1 990, Duty of Care.1