Site Waste Management Plans
The Site Waste Management Plans Regulations came into force on 6th April 2008.
These Regulations follow the trend of the CDM Regulations 2007 by imposing potentially onerous duties on Clients relating to managing the waste created on their construction sites.
The SWMP Regulations apply to any construction site with a project value in excess of £300,000. The key points of the Regulations include:
- The Client must prepare a Site Waste Management Plan before construction work begins.
- Failure to produce a Site Waste Management Plan can result in a maximum fine of £50,000 for the Client and the Principal Contractor.
- Individual directors and managers within an organisation can also be found guilty if deemed negligent.
- The initial Site Waste Management Plan must include arrangements aimed at minimising the quantity of waste produced on site. Additionally the Site Waste Management Plan must describe the types of waste to be produced and also the estimated quantity of each waste type.
- The Site Waste Management Plan is updated by the Principal Contractor throughout the project.
- Detailed arrangements for the removal of waste from site are required, with extra information needed when the value of the project is over £500,000.
- The enforcing authorities are the Environment Agency, district councils and the London councils.
- The enforcing authority can issue an on the spot fixed penalty of £300 if they turn up at a qualifying site and find there is no Site Waste Management Plan in place. When such a penalty is served the enforcing authority cannot instigate proceedings for 14 days i.e. allowing a period of grace to enable a Site Waste Management Plan to be established.
- The Regulations do not apply in relation to a project that was planned before the 6th April but where the construction begins before 1st July 2008 i.e. allowing a short transitional period.
Eurosafe UK are able to offer a SWMP service to Clients which includes:
- Writing the initial SWMP
- Visiting the construction site to ensure that the SWMP is being reviewed and updated, and that all necessary records are being kept.
- Ensuring the Principal Contractor has added the key information to the SWMP within the 3 month period stipulated in the Regulations following completion of the project on site.
Please contact Andy Newsham on 01904 691515 if you wish to discuss the impact of these Regulations on your business.
