site waste management plans

The government is proposing that anyone carrying out a construction project of over £250,000 in value will have to prepare a site waste management plan. The plan will have to record details of the amount and type of waste produced and how it is intended to be disposed of. Details of any recycling and reuse planned also has to be set out, as well as details of the site manager, contractors and value of the project. It is intended that the plan will be a 'living' document being updated as and when further details are known, including recording how waste was actually disposed of. Once the project is completed, a 'lessons learnt' section needs to be added to the plan.

If the project has an estimated value of over £500,000, further details will have to be provided including details of the waste management contractor removing the waste and a description of the waste as required by the waste duty of care regulations.

The intention of these plans is to promote recycling and reuse as well as clamp down on the illegal disposal of construction waste.

It is intended that if you start a project without a plan, it will be a criminal offence, although the government are also considering imposing a fixed penalty notice system on those that do not comply.

For more information, please contact Andrew Wiseman, head of Blake Lapthorn’s Environment team on 023 8085 7229; email andrew.wiseman@bllaw.co.uk