Press Release
SURVEY SHOWS CONSTRUCTION BUSINESSES ‘SLEEPWALKING’ TOWARDS NEW SITE
WASTE MANAGEMENT LEGISLATION
- Two thirds of construction businesses still don’t know what a Site
Waste Management Plan is, according to new research by NetRegs
- Over 60% do not realise the plans are set to become a legal
requirement next year
- NetRegs’ campaign highlights the importance of taking immediate
action to reduce site waste and is backed by the industry and government
The construction industry and the Department of Trade and Industry are
backing a new campaign launched today by NetRegs (www.netregs.gov.uk)
- a free and confidential website that provides practical, industry-specific
guidance to small businesses on their environmental obligations.
Margaret Hodge MP, Industry Minister, the Federation of Master Builders
(FMB), Construction Skills, and Travis Perkins are supporting
the ‘Site Waste – It’s Criminal’ campaign, aimed at raising awareness of Site
Waste Management Plans (SWMPs). They are encouraging small businesses in the
construction sector to wake up to using SWMPs by highlighting the financial and
legal importance of preparing early for the plans, due to become a legal
requirement in Spring 2008.
The ‘Site Waste – It’s Criminal’ campaign has been launched by NetRegs – set
up by the UK’s environmental regulators – in response to its recent survey of
small businesses in the construction sector across the UK. The survey found
almost a quarter (24%) had never introduced any practices that prevent harm to
the environment and more than half admitted that although they try their best,
they could work harder at being environmentally friendly. Most concerning was
that two thirds of respondents (66%) said they didn’t know what an SWMP is and
63% were not aware that SWMPs could soon become a legal requirement.
Yet construction waste costs businesses money. The average eight cubic yard
skip costs around £150 to hire and its discarded contents is worth, on average,
over £1,200. In the UK it is estimated that 13% of all materials delivered to
site go into skips without ever being used (Source: CIRIA).
The NetRegs campaign will provide construction businesses with a new online
guide to explain SWMP legislation. Freely available through
www.netregs.gov.uk ‘Site Waste – It’s Criminal - A simple guide to Site
Waste Management Plans’ is packed with easy-to-understand, practical information
and straightforward, downloadable data sheet templates that businesses can use
as a basis to create their own SWMP. Regular updates on the legislation will be
provided to businesses that register for NetRegs’ online e-alerts service.
By putting an effective SWMP in place, construction projects will be legally
compliant, enjoy significant cost savings and play an important role in
improving the local environment.
Richard Martin, Programme Manager at NetRegs, said: “Every year the
construction industry produces approximately five tonnes of waste for every
person living in the UK. Our research shows that 89% of small business in the
sector would welcome more information on SWMPs. ‘Site Waste - It’s Criminal’ is
designed to help construction businesses better understand the importance of
SWMPs while providing practical guidance on how to prepare for them becoming
law. It’s not just the legal implications they need to consider, but also the
huge amount of money they could save.”
Margaret Hodge MP, Industry Minister, welcomed the campaign by saying: “This
site will help businesses find out what they need to know about the new
legislation before it comes into force next year. The legislation needn’t be a
burden to businesses. Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) are a good way to
help businesses be careful about how they use, store and dispose of materials.
It will also benefit the environment by reducing the waste generated from
construction sites.
“The NetRegs site will be a very useful tool for businesses to consult and to
help them prepare their own SWMPs.”
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is supporting the campaign. Tom
Dibaja, Director of External Affairs at the FMB said: “With the new SWMP
legislation not due to come into force until next year, it might be tempting for
businesses to put off planning until later in the year. Our advice is don’t,
it’s a false economy. Prioritise the introduction of waste minimisation and
responsible methods of disposal and you’ll benefit from saving time, money and
avoid the risk of prosecution.”
Karen Pimley, Project Manager for Sustainability Projects at
ConstructionSkills, said that training has an important role to play in changing
current practices: "Sustainability is an issue central to our built environment.
If we are to meet the current demand of the construction industry and help
deliver the government's targets for a sustainable future, the workforce must be
skilled in modern and sustainable building techniques. The NetRegs
campaign helps to deliver this message both on a national and at a local level
and complements the range of training courses available at our National
Construction College covering sustainability and site waste management.”
For further information about Site Waste Management Plans or to download the
guide, visit www.netregs.gov.uk Small
businesses can also register on NetRegs to receive its free e-alerts email
service that provides updates about environmental legislation and guidance on
how to comply.
For more information contact:
Louise Ellis, Laura Grant or Ashley Clouder at Lawton on:
Tel: 023 8082 8500/8586/8554/8552
Email: louise.ellis@lawton.co.uk
laura.grant@lawton.co.uk or
ashley.clouder@lawton.co.uk
- NetRegs - www.netregs.gov.uk - is
a joint initiative between the Environment Agency in England and Wales (EA
and EAW), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the
Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), Northern Ireland.
- NetRegs was launched in 2004 to provide SMEs with guidance on complying
with environmental legislation.
- The website currently offers
specific guidelines for 105 industry sectors in England, Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland.
-
NetRegs provides free and confidential guidance to SMEs in the UK, which is
available without the need to register.
- The NetRegs survey was
undertaken between the 11th and 16th of January 2007. The survey was
conducted through the Federation of Master Builders and comprised 402
respondents.