Kent Design - Technical Appendix - Kent County Council

1.3.2 SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLANS
Developers may plan to re-use materials by detailing their intentions
for waste minimisation and re-use in sustainability action plans. This
should cover all the materials used in the construction of the
development including that used for construction of roads and
footways, buildings and especially their fitting out.
Sustainability Action Plans in particular should identify materials used
in high volumes irrespective of cost and materials of high value
irrespective of quantity. These categories of materials are likely to
show the maximum benefit from being targeted for waste
minimisation and recycling.
The subjects to be covered in Sustainability Action Plans may include:
• Who in the organisation is responsible for managing
sustainability in the contract
• Details of the training he or she has received
• How information on sustainability is to be conveyed to
staff working on the contract
• How sub-contractors are made aware of, and
encouraged to participate in, the sustainability plan.
• What systems are used to control and minimise
transportation, water and energy costs.
• How product suppliers’ packaging e.g. pallets, are
recovered.
• What percentage of recycled materials are contained in
the products you propose to incorporate into the works.
• Which recycling centres will be used for processing
materials recovered. Are these the nearest centres to
the site. If not, explain.
• Who will carry out waste audits during construction.
• Who is responsible for taking action as a result of the
waste audit.
Studies have shown that it is very beneficial to take positive action
and to give consideration at the planning stage as to how much waste
might be produced on site and what happens to it. In order to assist
with the process developers are encouraged to complete a
Sustainability Action Plan. A typical questionnaire is shown overleaf for
typical highway materials. Developers may like to prepare one to cover
house building and fitting out materials, assistance with this may be
provided.
supply the results of the waste audit of highway construction
materials to the Engineer before adoption of the roads takes place.
The construction of dwellings will potentially generate far more
valuable waste than the construction of carriageways and footways.
The principles of sustainability and waste audit are even more
applicable for this activity.
process
1.3.3 WASTE AUDITS
Developers are also recommended to continue to monitor waste
produced by a site, especially the two categories of materials
identified in the Sustainability Action Plan (clause 1.3.2) by carrying
out a waste audit as the work proceeds. This has been found to be
enlightening both environmentally and financially and helps to
develop a strong commitment by site staff to minimising waste and
recycling that waste which is unavoidable.
The kind of information to be collected is described in the
Sustainability Awareness Questionnaire.
A system will need to be developed which is site specific but does not
generate excessive bureaucracy. Assistance with this could be provided.
Waste may be generated on site for the reasons given below. In order
to provide developers and the Engineer with data on which to base
future requirements and operations and in support of the
Sustainability Action Plan, the developer is strongly recommended to
A G U I D E T O S U S T A I N A B L E D E V E L O P M E N T
Kent
Design
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