As the current economic downturn is affecting Scotland's construction industry more than ever, sustainability expert Envirowise is urging the country's 14,500-plus firms to reduce their environmental impact with Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs).
With more than 10.6 million tonnes being generated annually, the construction industry is one of Scotland's largest producers of waste1. Firms currently pay out £32 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. By introducing resource efficiency measures into their long-term plans, construction firms will begin to build the foundations of a more profitable and greener business.
Since 2005, Envirowise has worked closely with construction giant Laing O'Rourke to improve its green credentials and develop a Site Waste Management Plan Project, which has already resulted in financial savings of £30,000 for the business.
Laing O’Rourke has developed the SWMP Project through its involvement in a consortium contracted to design, construct and manage a £135m schools building programme as part of the City of Edinburgh Council's Smart Schools Programme. All schools are being designed to high standards of sustainable construction and will endeavour to meet the requirements of 'Very Good' for BREEAM Schools – a method of sustainability assessment for commercial buildings. One project currently underway is the redevelopment of Broughton High School in Edinburgh.
Dr Stephen Thomson, Resource Strategist at Laing O'Rourke, said: "The construction project teams have improved waste management, in addition to storage and handling issues both on and off-site. Our SWMP project demonstrates a practical approach to data recording which isn’t onerous for site managers, and the time spent by administrators checking the number of skips, matching invoices, and dealing with issues regarding missing delivery tickets will be significantly reduced.
"Working with Envirowise and WRAP on SWMP development has produced a robust and simple excel-based template which has significantly influenced our final group SWMP design. As a result, we’re reducing our environmental impact while at the same time building the foundations of a more profitable business."
Envirowise construction specialist, Rupert Carrick, said: "Green buildings should aim to have as little impact on the environment as possible throughout their design, construction and maintenance. For a building to be genuinely sustainable, it must also be practical and cost effective.
"It's vital that the benefits of a 'zero waste' approach to all stages of a project's delivery are communicated to the construction industry. SWMPs offer a framework for systematically managing and reporting on waste levels throughout the life of a project and by setting this framework, it's easier to identify where resources are being wasted and how this can be addressed.
"Laing O'Rourke now have the tools and knowledge to implement SWMPs company-wide with the potential to make even further financial savings as a result."
Envirowise's 'An Introduction to Site Waste Management Plans' guide is available to download free-of-charge at www.envirowise.gov.uk/swmpguide.
For more general advice regarding resource efficiency, companies can call the advice line on 0800 585 794 or visit www.envirowise.gov.uk/construction.
Sources:
1. SEPA Waste Data Digest 7 – 2005/2006
Total Waste Arisings
During 2005/2006, an estimated 10.60 million tonnes of Construction and demolition was generated in Scotland.