Contractors urged to plan ahead for new waste regulations

Contractors are being warned to plan now for the onset of Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) to avoid sudden and unexpected costs when they become compulsory in 2007.

Currently voluntary, SWMPs will become mandatory on all projects with a value over £200,000 late next year. "Time invested now in addressing site waste could help reduce the potential cost and impact of compliance later," said Mike Payne, construction manager at government waste advisory service Envirowise.

Developing SWMPs now could also help comply with planning requirements and maintain good relationships with customers. "As SWMPs take the form of a written document, they give a company evidence of compliance, which can be used to demonstrate the fulfilment of contractual obligations, as well as the opportunity to highlight good practice initiatives," he added.

"Envirowise can provide specialist advice and companies may even be eligible for a free on-site resource efficiency review," said Payne.

SWMPs focus largely on on-site operations and identify: an individual responsible for resource management the types of waste generated resource management operations for these wastes the use of appropriate and licensed waste management contractors a plan for monitoring and reporting on resource use and the quantity of waste.

"The SWMP framework can also be extended to encompass associated processes such as materials procurement and design, and as a result, companies can make further resource efficiency savings," he concluded.

[Contract Journal, 23 August 2006, p 3]