First English Council Commits to Halving Waste to Landfill

Manchester City Council has joined a range of leading Project Clients, Principal Contractors and Retailers in signing up to WRAPs 'Halving Waste to Landfill' initiative.

Reducing construction waste is a key objective for UK industry not only helping to cut waste management costs but also provides savings on the value of wasted materials.

The Council sees the committment as key step to improving their sustainability and contributing to combatting climate change.

The recent SWMP Regulations requiring the production of Site Waste Management Plans for projects over £300k can assist industry in implementing and monitoring their approach to the 'Halving Waste' committment. For more information on developing your Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) click here.

To read the full article go to: http://www.wrap.org.uk/wrap_corporate/news/first_english.html

Changes to Hazardous Waste Regulations

As of the 6th April 2009 the Hazardous Waste Regulations have been amended. One of the main changes to affect businesses such as those from the construction industry who are producers of hazardous waste relates to the need to register.

Premises producing hazardous waste such as construction sites will no longer need to register the site as producing hazardous waste if it will produce less than 500kg of hazardous waste in any one year.

The requirement to manage your hazardous waste properly along with your other wastes also forms part of your obligations under your 'Waste Duty of Care' which have been strengthened by the recent introduction of the Site Waste Management Plan regulations 2008.
For more information on the Hazardous Waste Regulations amendements go to:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/hazwaste/index.htm

For more information on Site Waste Management Plans click here.

Government Creates Single Organisation for Resource Efficiency

WRAP will lead the development of a single point of contact for advice and support on resource efficiency.
The aim is to deliver better and more efficient services to businesses including within the construction industry.
The new organisation should make it less confusing to access help on resource efficiency. Clear guidance can only assist the construction industry to implement Site Waste Management Plans more effectively.
For assistance with your Site Waste Management Plan click here.

For the full article go to:
http://www.wrap.org.uk/wrap_corporate/news/wrap_welcomes_move.html

WRAP Launches New Feasibility Study for Innovative New Construction Waste Recycling Framework

17th February 2009
A new construction waste recycling framework could provide construction companies with clear information on processing and recovery routes for their wastes.
The aim would be to help the industry realise significant cost savings on waste disposal and identify new waste management contractors to help them meet their waste reduction and recovery targets.

The consultation process with the construction and waste management sectors will look at the form of such a framework and how it might work. If implemented this could make a key contribution to the more effective implementation of Site Waste Management Plans; A key requirement of a correctly implemented Site Waste Management Plan is to maximise reuse, recycling and recovery of wastes and to encourage minimisation of construction waste in the first instance.

For more on Site Waste Management Plans click here. For the full article go to:

http://www.wrap.org.uk/wrap_corporate/news/wrap_to_investigate.html

Environment Agency’s Biggest Ever Crackdown on Fly-Tipping in the North East

5th February 2009
The campaign will warn business and residents that if they dump waste or use someone who then dumps their waste illegally they face heavy fines or even prison sentences.

78,000 incidents of fly-tipping were dealt with by Local Authorities during 2007/2008 costing local taxpayers £16 million.

The primary aim of the campaign is to persuade businesses and householders to use registered waste carriers.

The recent Site Waste Management Plans Regulations launched in 2008 provide a strong framework for the construction industry to work within to help reduce fly tipping within the construction industry and strengthen adherence to existing legislative requirements such as the ‘Waste Duty of Care’. A properly developed and implemented Site Waste Management Plan can ensure you fulfil your legal obligations and protect you from prosecution if someone who subsequently deals with your waste illegally is prosecuted.

For more information on Site Waste Management Plans and the SWMP Regulations click here.

For the full article click the link below:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/102950.aspx?page=2&month=2&year=2009&sector=Waste

First Waste Management Contractor Signs Up To WRAPs Halving Waste to Landfill Agreement

Birmingham based Premier Waste have signed up to the WRAP voluntary framework to halve the amount of construction, demolition and excavation waste going to landfill by 2012.
The company already diverts 98% of its clients waste from landfill and believes 100% diversion is an achievable and realistic target.

As waste disposal becomes more costly for construction companies, surely those waste contractors showing a more proactive stance on improving recovery rates will benefit most.

The provision of more accurate and meaningful recovery figures can also make an important contribution to the production of more useful Site Waste Management Plans. A Project Client and Principal Contractor can then utilise the outputs of their Site Waste Management Plan more effectively to identify trends and opportunities for improving resource efficiency and realising cost savings on future projects.
For more information on Site Waste Management Plans click here.

For the full article go to:
http://www.wrap.org.uk/wrap_corporate/news/first_waste_1.html

Environment Agency Ceases 10% Gypsum and Plasterboard Rule from April 2009

From April 2009 the Environment Agency will ban the mixing and disposal of gypsum wastes including plasterboard with general mixed waste (biodegradable) for disposal to landfill.

1. What does this mean for producers of gypsum/plasterboard waste such as the construction and demolition industry?
2. In the first instance your Site Waste Management Plan should take account of your estimated and actual production of gypsum and plasterboard wastes.
3. You should separate gypsum and plasterboard wastes wherever possible for recycling and recovery.
4. You must comply with your Waste Duty of Care and only pass your waste on to someone who is an authorised waste carrier.
5. Where you or your waste carrier passes your gypsum and plasterboard waste on to someone else for treatment you must ensure that they will manage it according to the new requirements i.e. they reuse, recycle or recover it where possible and do not mix it with other wastes for disposal to landfill.

You can get more advice on managing gypsum waster and plasterboard waste from WRAP. See www.wrap.org.uk

Outline Statement: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/news/100510.aspx

Full Position Statement: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/mwrp007_2163539.pdf

New Environment Agency-WRAP Initiative to Increase Re-use and Recycling and Reduce Landfill of Waste Materials

The Waste Protocols Project has been set up to help industry identify a range of materials that can be turned into new items or recycled rather than being discarded to landfill with associated waste management costs, labour costs, and lost material costs.

To date 11 materials have been identified including non packaging plastics such as old drainpipes and waste oils that can be transformed into new products. These 11 materials “are projected to save businesses and industry more than £4oo million, create a £280 million market in the materials and divert 17 million tonnes of waste from landfill”.

Projects such as this will feed into the construction industry as well as other industries and can assist in identifying additional potential markets for the reuse and recovery of waste construction materials, in turn feeding into project Site Waste Management Plans.
To read the full article go to:http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/102042.aspx?page=2

WRAP the Government sponsored Waste and Resources Action Programme

WRAP the Government sponsored Waste and Resources Action Programme recently announced that over 30 leading companies across the construction supply chain have committed to halving the amount of construction waste sent to landfill by 2012 – organisations include Land Securities, Defence Estates, Laing O’Rourke and ASDA. To read more follow this link:

http://www.wrap.org.uk/wrap_corporate/news/leading_companies.html

Government’s online guide to environmental legislation

According to NetRegs, the Government’s online guide to environmental legislation, over half of construction businesses in England are unaware that Site Waste Management Plans are mandatory for construction or demolition projects over £300,000. In response Netregs have launched a new campaign to raise awareness amongst businesses of the SWMP obligations. For further information follow this link:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/

Site Waste Planning comments: “You can also download our free SWMP Guide and Checklists to help Project Clients and Principal Contractors understand their obligations (link to download section)”

NetRegs launches an expanded online Waste Directory

NetRegs launches an expanded online Waste Directory to assist small and medium sizes businesses comply with waste disposal laws and identify the nearest businesses where they can recycle and dispose of waste. For further information follow this link:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/NetRegs/NetRegs_directory_makes_easy_work_of_waste.pdf

Site Waste Planning comments: “As part of the SWMP Regulations, Principal Contractors have an obligation to reuse, recycle and recover waste as far as possible before disposing of it in other ways – the directory provides a useful resource to identify recycling facilities”