Why Is An SWMP A Useful Tool?
In 2008, Site Waste Management Plans became a legal requirement for construction projects in England. Five years on, the SWMP law has been repealed by Defra, reducing the regulatory burden on business across the UK.
Why Should You Continue With SWMPs?
When introduced by the government, site waste management plans were a means of providing structure to waste and resource management throughout all stages of a construction project. Aiming to reduce waste and encourage recycling in the construction sector, the SWMP focused attention on managing resources more efficiently, improving the storage and handling of materials, increasing material reuse, encouraging a greater buy-in of recycled materials and reducing energy consumption.
Whilst no longer mandatory for construction businesses in the UK, SWMPs can actually help contractors meet their required Duty of Care by identifying and implementing environmentally conscious strategies. Through utilising the steps in a site waste management plan, construction business can apply the waste hierarchy and carefully choose appropriate building materials to meet this. The beauty of an SWMP is that it highlights opportunities were savings can be made, resulting in reduced waste disposal requirements. Setting targets for improving your business’ environmental outcomes, a waste management plan sets a framework to work by and identifies the measures to be taken to realise these.
The benefits of an SWMP are not limited to the contractor. Allowing awareness of effective resource efficiency, a site waste management plan will identify targets not just in the construction industry itself, but in the supply chain as well. The benefits to business however, are widely recognised through improvements in sustainable resource efficiency. The main driver behind successful site waste plans; this can create a desire to reduce both waste generated and that which is sent to landfill.
A practical tool to drive change in a difficult industry, SWMPs can increase sustainability and help businesses reach environmental targets. Regardless of their repeal, construction sites should continue to utilise waste management plans on site in a bid to drive resource efficiency and effective waste management further. For contractors who are committed to a progressive and thoughtful approach in construction waste, the continued use of an SWMP makes sense.
Talk To Skippy Nationwide About Your Site Waste Management Plan
Effective as of December 1st, the repeal of the SWMP regulation in England will mean that businesses no longer have to complete a waste plan for a construction site or project. Reducing the regulatory burden for businesses of all sizes, this repeal should make it easier for construction companies to meet their recycling targets.
Helping you to plan in the earlier stages of your project, a site waste management plan will highlight ways to design and engineer out waste disposal. At Skippy Nationwide we can help you to create and implement and effective SWMP for your site. Best practice for the construction industry, planning you waste management in a pro-active and business appropriate manner will help to maximise your waste as a resource.
For more information about implementing an SWMP go to www.skippy.co.uk. Talk to their team of experts at 0500 401148 or email sales@skippy.co.uk.
About the Author
Skippy Nationwide Nationwide House Stafford Park 7 Telford, UK TF3 3 BQ Telephone: 01952 200222 Fax.: 01952 292922 www.skippy.co.uk
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