Envirowise has announced a new support package to help companies in the Scottish construction sector take action on waste.

An in-depth practical guide detailing the benefits of Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) is launched today and will be followed by an interactive toolkit and regional workshops. The resource efficiency programme is also offering companies specialist training on SWMPs delivered at their own premises for between 10-20 staff responsible for waste.

The construction industry is one of the largest sources of waste in Scotland, with more than 10.60 million tonnes being generated annually and Envirowise is hoping Scotland’s 14,500-plus construction firms will use SWMPs as a way of managing and ultimately reducing the waste they produce. Around 13% of the materials delivered to UK construction sites are discarded unused.


With firms currently paying out £24 per tonne in landfill tax and, with this tax set to double by 2010, the financial impact on companies which do not act will only increase.

Envirowise construction specialist, Derek Jarvie, said: “The current cost of waste to the sector is substantial, particularly as the true cost of waste can be up to 15 times more than the cost of disposal.

“SWMPs offer a framework for systematically managing and reporting on waste levels throughout the life of a project. By setting this framework, it is easier to identify where resources are being wasted and how this can be addressed.”

Scotland-based Barr Construction, is one of the companies leading the way and has already trialled a focussed Site Waste Management Plan on a recent project.

Quality and Environmental Manager, Charlotte Morison explains: “We are already seeing the financial benefits of implementing SWMPs and now plan to roll them out company-wide. We have been working with Envirowise and will continue to do so as we start to incorporate SWMPs into the planning stages of all our new projects.

“Our overall aim is to ensure that waste is minimised as much as possible. We know that we can achieve this by working closely with architects, sub-contractors and our suppliers so that waste can be minimised throughout the supply chain.”

(CD/SP)