Waste minimisation and management

There are, of course, many benefits to the introduction of good waste management and minimisation (WMM) on construction sites and in the use of site waste management plans, not least in terms of the positive environmental impact.

CIRIA (the Construction Industry Research and Information Association) found the benefits of implementing the DTI Guidance (now BIS) on Site Waste Management Plan Regulation to include:

• 15% less waste on-site;
• 43% less waste to landfill;
• 50% savings in waste handling charges;
• 40% saving on waste management costs compared to landfill disposal.

(Source: Demonstrating waste minimisation benefits in construction, report C536, CIRIA.)

Many developers will need to demonstrate methods of sustainable development and environmental responsibility under the terms of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives. Implementing good practice waste management and minimisation will likely improve performance against these.

Some authorities now require the submission of waste management information (such as a Site Waste Management Plan) with planning applications. Many local authorities also make waste management and minimisation a condition of planning approval. By implementing good waste management and minimisation from the outset, the developer will be able to meet these planning requirements proactively rather than reactively.

A less tangible, but nonetheless important benefit will be the reduction in CO₂ production, resulting from the reduction of waste on site and the associated manufacture and transport processes.

Site waste management plans

The Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008 (SWMPR) came into force in England in April 2008. Despite a consultation, the SWMPRs were repealed in 2013. Reasons for the repeal of the legislation (summarised in the consultation document) were said to include lack of enforcement of the SWMP process. It was also commented that the responsibility for production of the SWMP was often delegated by the developer to either the contractor or non-supply chain staff. This delegation was considered to make SWMPs a less effective tool for waste management and minimisation (as the SWMP was originally intended to be an integral part of construction project design and planning).

While the SWMPRs have been repealed in England, it is generally considered that SWMPs represent good practice in construction projects. Thus SWMPs are often still required as part of planning conditions, included within Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMPS) and continue to be used to collect and collate waste KPI information.

SWMPs are not required by law in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but are considered to be good practice. Of note, the Welsh government held a consultation in early 2013 regarding the possible future implementation of legislation that would require SWMPs on construction projects in Wales (with a view to implement the legislation in 2014/2015).
WRAP has developed free SWMP tools and guidance (including a downloadable SWMP template and waste tracker) which are available on its website. 

Key Performance Indicators

The use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can assist with waste management and can be used to benchmark and compare the environmental performance across different projects. KPIs are often collected through the same tracking sheets and systems used for SWMPs.

Commonly used waste management KPIs include:

• the quantity of waste generated (typically measured in m³ or tonne for each waste stream);
• the percentage of waste that is recovered, recycled or re-used;
• waste and recycling figures can be recorded as overall volumes or can be ‘normalised’ against output, project value, size of a development, etc.;
• it may also be appropriate to include the quantity of liquid waste generated (such as waste water discharge).

The KPI figures should improve as the client and contractor gain more experience of implementing waste management and minimisation theory increases.