In England you must have a site waste management plan (SWMP) for all construction projects worth more than £300,000.

If you are in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, you do not currently need to have a SWMP. However, following the procedure could help you to reduce the amount of waste you produce and will help you manage your waste more effectively. SWMPs are being promoted as an example of best practice in the construction industry.

In Northern Ireland the Department of the Environment Northern Ireland (DOENI) is consulting on proposals to make site waste management plans (SWMP) a legal requirement. 

Site Waste Management Plans are designed to encourage better waste management practices, improve environmental performance and reduce the cost of waste disposal. Both local authorities and the Environment Agency have the power to enforce SWMP implementation and the Code for Sustainable Homes as well as the BREEAM schemes already requires the use of a SWMP.

Who’s responsible for the SWMP?

If you are the client, you are responsible for:

• producing the initial SWMP before construction work begins

• appointing the principal contractor

• passing the SWMP to the principal contractor.

If you are the principal contractor, you are responsible for:

• obtaining relevant information from sub-contractors

• keeping the SWMP on site during the project

• ensuring that other contractors know where the SWMP is kept

• allowing other contractors and the client access to the SWMP during the project

• keeping the SWMP for two years after the completion of the project.

 You should update the plan regularly to ensure that it accurately reflects the progress of the project.

What should the SWMP contain?

The level of detail that your SWMP should contain depends on the estimated build cost, excluding VAT.

For projects estimated at between £300,000 and £500,000 (excluding VAT) the SWMP should contain details of the:

• types of waste removed from the site

• identity of the person who removed the waste

• site that the waste is taken to.

For projects estimated at over £500,000 (excluding VAT) the SWMP should contain details of the:

• types of waste removed from the site

• identity of the person who removed the waste and their waste carrier registration number

• a description of the waste

• site that the waste was taken to

• environmental permit or exemption held by the site where the material is taken.

At the end of the project, you must review the plan and record the reasons for any differences between the plan and what actually happened.

You must still comply with the duty of care for waste. Because you will need to record all waste movements in one document, having a SWMP will help you to ensure you comply with the duty of care.

When do you not need a SWMP?

You do not need a SWMP if you are working on a construction project within a site that has a Part A environmental permit.

If you are working on a construction project within a nuclear licensed site you do not need a separate SWMP if you have an Integrated Waste Strategy (IWS) that meets all of the SWMP requirements. If your IWS does not cover all of the SWMP requirements you will need to produce a SWMP.

Good practice

If you are working as a sub-contractor, check your contract for requirements on:

• purchasing strategies or methods of work aimed at reducing waste

• the on-site reuse or recycling of site-gained materials

• the disposal of waste

• what information you need to report to the principal contractor or client, and when.

Reegen can provide Site Waste Management Plans that not only comply with legislation but help identify and deliver Good and Best Practice that in turn can realise a number of benefits including:

· cost savings through reduced requirement for materials, disposal costs and sale of materials;

· demonstration of good environmental performance and corporate social responsibility;

· reduced impact on the local community and better public relationships; and

· improved company performance allowing differentiation from competitors.

Reegen can assist you from early design to ensure final approval with the completion of a SWMP. By using the BRE developed SMARTWaste Plan Reegen can provide assistance throughout the following steps;

1. The assessment of the waste management contractors and subcontractors for a project. Reegen can provide a recycling rate by assessing the waste carriers and its destination.

2. Calculating waste arising and cost data.

3. Preparation for a SWMP includes producing documents covering, Responsibilities, Waste minimization, Forecast which uses BRE waste benchmark tool and Waste management options.

4. Implementing a SWMP requires the following; Duty of Care, Training and Communication, Actual versus forecasted waste and an ongoing review of implementation

5. A completion review completes the SWMP

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