The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced that proposals aimed at reducing the 109 million tonnes of waste produced annually on construction sites in England and Wales have been endorsed by the building sector. Responses to the Government Consultation on Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) for the construction industry revealed that 75% of respondents welcome the introduction of SWMPs in order to help:
At present, around 13% of all the solid materials delivered to construction sites goes unused, and up to one third ends up in landfill. The plans would require an assessment of the waste to be produced on a site and detail how it would be reused, disposed of or recycled. During construction the plans would be updated to record what actually happens to the waste, including the legitimate disposal of materials that cannot be reused or recycled. This audit trail will reduce the potential for fly-tipping and increase the accountability of contractors. They should also help the construction industry to get maximum value out of its waste and make better use of resources.
The responses to this consultation will be used by DEFRA in the preparation of regulations which will come into force in 2008. Once the regulations are finalised, DEFRA will produce guidance to help businesses prepare for and implement them.
