Site Waste Management Plans

The production of a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) for all types of construction projects, greater than £300,000 in value, has been a legal requirement since April 2008.

As set out in the Site Waste Management Plan Regulations (2008) the drivers behind this are;

• Landfill Directive

• Hazardous Waste Directive

• Duty of Care

• Landfill Tax

• Fly Tipping

• Code for Sustainable Homes

A SWMP is a dynamic document that provides a structure for waste management at all stages of a project and encourages waste minimisation and resource efficiency. The aim of the SWMP is to reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfill.

Clients and Contractors are required to:

• Prepare

• Implement

• Review the SWMP

Principle Contractors are required to coordinate the SWMP process to promote the reuse, recycling and recovery of potential waste materials. The Client must provide detailed direction to the principle contractor to enable them to comply with SWMP regulations.

Under the SWMP regulations, it is an offence to:

• Start project without a SWMP

• Failing to update a SWMP

• Make false or misleading statements

• Fail to make SWMP available on site

• Fail to cooperate with enforcing officer

Penalties of up to £50,000 could be imposed for failure to comply with SWMP regulations.