WRAP launches construction waste rules guide

New online template to help building firms comply with legislation demanding they keep Site Waste Management Plans

The Waste & Resource Action Programme (WRAP) yesterday launched a new service designed to help construction firms comply with imminent legislation demanding they keep a record of their waste management strategy for large-scale projects.

Under the legislation, firms working on all aspects of construction work worth over £300,000 will from April have to develop Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) detailing how they will monitor and reduce waste resulting from the project.

Now WRAP has launched a new SWMP template which it says firms can follow to ensure compliance with the new rules.

Mervyn Jones, WRAP programme manager for waste minimisation and management, said that the template would "lead construction professionals through both the development and implementation of the plan, at each stage of construction".

He added that it would also help firms identify areas where they can cut down on waste and adopt re-use best practices.

The template is freely available on the WRAP website and comprises 14 steps that mirror the construction lifecycle from pre-design to project completion and review.

WRAP said that as well as enabling legal compliance with the new rules, it would also allow firms to develop key performance indicators for waste and other materials and identify areas where they can cut landfill costs and improve recycling and re-use rates.