Site Waste Management Plans
What is a SWMP?
The SWMP is a planning document that must be created prior to the start of construction. It must:
- Identify each type of waste expected to be produced during the project
- Estimate the quantity of each type that will be produced
- Identify the planned waste management action proposed for each different type, including on- or off-site reuse, on- or off-site recycling, or disposal
During the project, the principal contractor must monitor the plan and update it with details of the waste of each type actually produced, along with the action taken and any removal activity.
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Under the Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008, from 6th April 2008 every construction project in England, valued at over £300,000, is required to create, monitor, update and finally complete and analyse a Site Waste Management Plan. The SWMP Regulations do not currently apply to any other part of the United Kingdom.
The Regulations differ slightly between projects of over £300,000 but less than £500,000, and those over £500,000, primarily in the level of analysis required on completion of the project.
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The initial SWMP needs to be produced before construction starts. It will be necessary to be able to estimate and predict the level of waste of the various types during the course of the project.
The SWMP must be maintained and updated during the project, and analysed after completion.
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Up to three credits are available under the Code for Sustainable Homes for construction site waste management. One is for having procedures and commitments for reducing waste generated on site. The others are for sorting waste, and diverting waste from landfill.
Up to four credits are also available under BREEAM for non-domestic buildings.
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NHBC has extensive experience of construction projects and can work with you to:
- Set up your SWMP and the processes required for its operation. This can include helping you forecast the types and quantities of waste to be produced, and determining the likely forms of reuse, recycling or disposal for them.
- During the project we can undertake regular inspections of the SWMP to advise as to whether it is being completed correctly, and that the waste monitoring process is functional.
- On completion of the project we can perform the post-construction completion of the SWMP, and the comparison and analyses required of the predicted versus the actual waste produced and its management.
For further information and to order your SWMP services contact NHBC on 0844 633 1000 and ask for 'health and safety' or email swmp@nhbc.co.uk