"Around 13 per cent of the materials delivered to Welsh construction sites are currently discarded unused. With firms paying out around £24 per tonne in landfill tax, the sector is squandering substantial amounts of money on the disposal of these materials. And, with this tax set to double by 2010, the financial impact on companies that fail to act will only increase"
Ed Gmitrowicz, Envirowise Programme Area Manager for Wales
Construction companies in Wales are being urged to take action in reducing their wastes and improve their bottom line.
Waste from construction projects across Wales amounts to 6.01 million tonnes annually offering substantial scope for reduction. In addition with Government proposals for the introduction of compulsory Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs), now is a good time to take action according to Envirowise.
Although production of SWMPs is currently voluntary, the UK Government and Devolved Administrations have accepted the potential for mandatory plans to tackle issues such as fly tipping and to provide a high standard, level playing field. Consultation on the mandatory proposals took place between April and July in England and new regulations could come into force in April 2008.
Envirowise, a Government-funded programme dedicated to putting the sustainable use of resources at the heart of UK business practice, is offering a new support package to help Welsh construction companies to tackle waste.
Waste plasterboard (Photo: WRAP)
A new guide details the benefits of implementing Site Waste Management Plans. It contains practical guidance on getting started and can help smooth the way to using construction materials in a more sustainable and cost-efficient way, says Envirowise.
Ed Gmitrowicz, Envirowise Programme Area Manager for Wales, said:
“Around 13 per cent of the materials delivered to Welsh construction sites are currently discarded unused. With firms paying out around £24 per tonne in landfill tax, the sector is squandering substantial amounts of money on the disposal of these materials. And, with this tax set to double by 2010, the financial impact on companies that fail to act will only increase.
“The launch of this new guide gives construction firms a starting point for getting to grips with tackling site waste and enables them do so in a systematic way, with tips on implementing a straightforward ten-point waste-busting action plan. And companies should remember that by cutting waste they are also saving money, as well as having a positive impact on the local environment.”
Further information
The Envirowise guide on Site Waste Management Plans is available at the Envirowise website.
The guide is to be followed by an interactive toolkit and a series of regional workshops, taking place at the Novotel in Cardiff, on 19 September 2007, the Metropole Hotel in Llandindod Wells on 25 September and CAST in Bangor on 26 September.
Envirowise's resource efficiency programme is also offering Welsh companies specialist training on SWMPs delivered at their own premises for between 10-20 staff responsible for waste.
For more general advice regarding the sustainable use of construction resources, companies can visit www.envirowise.gov.uk/construction or call the Envirowise Advice Line on 0800 585 794.