Site Waste Management Plans

At Bowman Riley Surveyors we have a full understanding of the Site Waste Management Regulations and experience in assisting Clients in complying with their duties under the Regulations and preparing Site Waste Management Plans (SWMP).

The Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008 are a legal requirement on construction projects with an estimated value in excess of £300,000 excluding VAT which are to be carried out in England, the Regulations do not apply to projects carried out in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales but may be regarded by regulatory bodies as best practice.

What is the Purpose of the Regulations

The purpose of the SWMP is to ensure that building materials are managed efficiently, that waste where produced is recycled, reused, recovered, and that where waste is to be disposed of it is done so legally.

Who has Duties under the Regulations

The Regulations place duties on the Client and Principal Contractor. The Principal Contractor is the one who is appointed by the Client and should not be confused with the Principal Contractor as defined in the CDM Regulations 2007, although they could and are most likely be one and the same.

The Client is responsible for the production of the SWMP. Once the SWMP is prepared it is the Principal Contractors duty to comply with the SWMP, monitor and record the waste produced, where it is disposed of and where construction projects have a value in excess of £500,000 excluding VAT keep more detailed records of the types and quantities of waste produced and review and update the SWMP at least every 6 months.

The Benefits to the Project

Although the SWMP Regulations are an additional requirement in the already highly regulated construction industry there are benefits to be gained from implementation of the SWMP:-

• Provides a structured approach to the management and recycling of waste on site.
• Seen as ‘best practice’ by Government agencies and local authority planning departments.
• Contribute to resource efficiency and in turn to more sustainable design and construction and reduction in project costs.
• Attracts points when assessing projects to sustainable standards (BREEAM, EcoHomes 2006 and Code for Sustainable Homes).
• Reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and cost associated (Landfill tax).