Site Waste Management Plan
A Site Waste Management Plan documents how construction, demolition, and excavation waste will be managed, minimised, and disposed of responsibly. Although the Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008 were repealed in 2013, many local authorities and clients continue to require these plans as a condition of planning permission or as part of good construction practice.
Typical Cost
£300 – £5,000+
Turnaround
1 – 6 weeks
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What is a Site Waste Management Plan?
A Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is a document that forecasts the types and quantities of waste that a construction project will generate, sets out how waste will be managed in accordance with the waste hierarchy of prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery, and disposal, and records actual waste movements throughout the project. It serves as both a planning tool and an operational record, demonstrating that the developer has considered waste management from the outset and is committed to minimising waste sent to landfill.
When is a Site Waste Management Plan required?
Although the legal requirement for SWMPs was removed by the Deregulation Act 2015, many local planning authorities continue to require them through planning conditions, particularly for major developments. BREEAM and other sustainability assessment methods also require SWMPs as part of their waste management credits. Some client bodies, including government departments and housing associations, mandate SWMPs as a contractual requirement. WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) continues to promote SWMPs as best practice for all construction projects exceeding £300,000 in value.
What does a Site Waste Management Plan include?
An effective SWMP includes a description of the project and anticipated construction activities, estimated types and quantities of waste to be produced by material stream, targets for waste reduction, reuse, and recycling rates, details of waste storage and segregation arrangements on site, identification of waste carriers and receiving facilities including permit numbers, procedures for dealing with hazardous waste such as asbestos, a monitoring and reporting framework, and provisions for updating the plan as the project progresses. The plan should also reference the duty of care requirements under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
How much does a Site Waste Management Plan cost?
Preparing a Site Waste Management Plan for a standard residential or commercial development typically costs between £500 and £2,000. For larger projects requiring detailed waste audits, pre-demolition surveys, and ongoing monitoring and reporting, costs can reach £3,000 to £6,000. Many principal contractors prepare SWMPs in-house as part of their standard project management procedures, which reduces the consultancy cost to the developer.
Who can prepare a Site Waste Management Plan?
Site Waste Management Plans can be prepared by waste management consultants, environmental consultants, sustainability advisors, or the principal contractor's project management team. There is no formal qualification requirement, but the author should have a working knowledge of the waste hierarchy, waste classification procedures, and the regulatory framework including the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, and the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. WRAP provides free templates and guidance to assist preparation.
How long does a Site Waste Management Plan take?
A Site Waste Management Plan can be prepared within 1 to 2 weeks for a straightforward project. The plan should be drafted before construction begins and updated throughout the project as actual waste data becomes available. Plans requiring pre-demolition audits or detailed material quantification exercises may take 3 to 4 weeks to prepare initially. The key time commitment is in the ongoing monitoring and recording during construction rather than the initial preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Site Waste Management Plans still legally required?
No. The Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008 were revoked in December 2013 as part of the government's deregulation agenda. However, many local authorities still require SWMPs through planning conditions, and they remain a requirement for BREEAM assessments and many public sector contracts. The duty of care for waste management under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 still applies regardless.
What is the waste hierarchy and how does it apply?
The waste hierarchy is a legally enshrined principle under the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 that prioritises waste management options in order of environmental preference: prevention, preparing for reuse, recycling, other recovery (such as energy recovery), and disposal as the last resort. Your SWMP should demonstrate that waste management decisions follow this hierarchy.
What waste targets should I set in the SWMP?
Common targets include diverting at least 90% of construction waste from landfill by weight, achieving a materials wastage rate below agreed benchmarks such as those published by WRAP, segregating waste into a minimum number of streams on site, and reducing hazardous waste generation through design and material selection. Targets should be realistic and measurable.
Do I need to include demolition waste in the SWMP?
Yes. If your project involves demolition, the SWMP should include a pre-demolition audit identifying materials that can be salvaged, reused, or recycled. Demolition waste often represents the largest waste stream on a project and offers significant opportunities for reuse of materials such as crushed concrete for aggregate, reclaimed bricks, and salvaged structural timbers.
How do I deal with hazardous waste in the SWMP?
Hazardous waste must be identified, segregated, and managed in accordance with the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. Common hazardous wastes on construction sites include asbestos, lead-based paint, contaminated soil, and certain chemical products. The SWMP should identify anticipated hazardous wastes, specify appropriate handling and storage procedures, and confirm that disposal will be through licensed hazardous waste facilities.
What records do I need to keep?
You should maintain waste transfer notes for all non-hazardous waste movements (retained for two years) and consignment notes for hazardous waste (retained for three years). These should record the description and quantity of waste, the waste carrier's details and licence number, and the destination facility and its permit number. The SWMP itself serves as a summary record of waste management performance.
Can a SWMP help reduce construction costs?
Absolutely. Effective waste management directly reduces costs through lower skip hire and disposal charges, reduced material purchasing through better waste prevention, income from selling recyclable materials, and avoidance of landfill tax which currently stands at over £100 per tonne for active waste. WRAP data suggests that good waste management can save 1 to 2 percent of total construction costs.
What is a pre-demolition audit?
A pre-demolition audit is a survey of a building or structure before demolition to identify materials that can be reclaimed, reused, or recycled. It catalogues items such as roof tiles, bricks, structural timber, radiators, sanitaryware, and architectural features that have salvage value. The audit informs the demolition methodology and helps maximise resource recovery, which should be reflected in the SWMP.
Does the SWMP need to cover excavation waste?
Yes. Excavation waste, particularly surplus soil and subsoil, is often the single largest waste stream on development sites. The SWMP should estimate excavation volumes, identify opportunities for reuse of materials on site such as for landscaping or raising levels, and set out disposal arrangements for surplus material. Where soil is contaminated, additional regulatory requirements apply under waste management and contaminated land legislation.
Is BREEAM still requiring Site Waste Management Plans?
Yes. Under the BREEAM New Construction scheme, credits are available under the Waste category for preparing and implementing a Site Waste Management Plan. The assessment requires the SWMP to include waste forecasting, set resource efficiency targets, and demonstrate monitoring of actual waste performance against those targets. Achieving the relevant BREEAM credits typically requires a more detailed SWMP than a basic planning condition would demand.