An in-depth practical guide, detailing the benefits of Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) and the steps involved, has been launched, and will be followed by an interactive toolkit and a series of regional workshops.
 
Envirowise is urging the construction industry to use Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) as a way of managing and ultimately reducing the 109 million tonnes of waste it produces annually.
 
Approximately 13% of the materials delivered to UK construction sites are discarded unused.  With firms currently paying out £24 a tonne in landfill tax, Envirowise estimates that the sector is currently squandering more than £100m through the disposal of unused materials. With this tax expected to double by 2010, the financial impact on companies that do not act will only increase.
 
Envirowise’s Mike Payne said:  “The current cost of waste to the sector is substantial, particularly as the true cost of waste can be up to 15 times more than the cost of disposal.
 
“SWMPs offer a framework for systematically managing and reporting on waste levels throughout the life of a project. By setting this framework, it is easier to identify where resources are being wasted and how this can be addressed.”