Responding to waste minimisation and management ... - Wrap

40 Responding to waste minimisation and management requirements Responding to waste minimisation and management requirements 41
6.3 Site labour
Site operatives must be conversed and in
agreement to deliver on the SWMP and meet
targets for waste reduction and recovery
on site.
6.3.1 Education
Most demolition companies appreciate the
value of their waste as it is a revenue stream,
and are therefore keen to recover it. Other
suppliers and contractors who do not have
this attitude to waste should be educated
in the opportunities and benefits of waste
reduction. This could mean provision of on
site education tools and committing to a
trained environmental resource on site to
attend to any waste issues.
Using educational tools like frequent
and dedicated waste management and
minimisation toolbox talks ensure that the
message is driven home. These talks must
be backed up the use of information signs
which not only facilitates constant visual
learning but would allow on site management
staff to cross any language divide that is
increasingly becoming a pressing issue on UK
construction sites and may have an impact
on site waste management. Examples of
waste management iconography and colour
coding currently used by local councils and
authorities are provided in the figure below.
Individual construction companies could
adopt a similar simplistic approach on
their sites.
Constructors could also take a pro-active
approach to assessing the attitudes
of potential subcontractors to waste
management before appointing them
by incorporating supplier selection
questionnaires into the tender process.
6.3.2 Incentive and reward systems
It is important to incentive any new initiative
and constructors might consider a reward
system to encourage your subcontractors/
suppliers to actively participate in on site
waste management and minimisation.
The first step in doing this is to effectively
monitor, collect, report, and review waste
data quantitatively. Key Performance
Indicators (KPI’s) should be established and
reported upon. Data needs to be recorded for
performance modelling and improvement
goal setting. Waste Management contractors
should measure waste on a site by site basis.
This process is an extension of the Duty
of Care obligations and the transfer note
system. There is no reason why transfer notes
can not contain detailed, site specific data
on quantities and weightings of site-specific
waste streams. With efficient waste data
feedback mechanisms in place, performance
and more importantly improvements can be
publicised to all stakeholders in the initiative.
Any monitoring system should be combined
with a reward system for good performance.
This could come in various forms, for
example, social events, prizes or plain cash
rewards. At a site level an example incentive
could simply be a round of drinks at the end
of the week. At an organisational level best in
class subcontractors could be rewarded with
preferred status. This reward system does not
have to be exclusive to on site subcontractors
but could also form part of the agreement
with the waste management contractor in
order to maximise the efficiency of
their operations.
Conversely a penalty scheme could
also be used to improve the practices of
subcontractors. However, such a scheme
should be carefully packaged and written
into contracts as it could be seen by some
as another hurdle to overcome and create
a negativity and resistance amongst on
site workers to the waste minimisation and
management initiative.
6.3.3 Develop closer relationships
with subcontractors
Closer relationships will lead to an enhanced
process of communication which in turn
will provide on site benefits, particularly
when implementing an initiative like waste
minimisation as the more involved people
are the more buy-in and ownership they
have. This can be essential with major
subcontractors and suppliers as these firms
are likely to be key waste producers and their
support of a waste minimisation initiative
is crucial to its success. Rewarding good
performance can be a way of facilitating the
development of closer relationships.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Education of employees in waste minimisation is key.
Use educational tools like on site information signs.
Provide bonus incentives for contributing to
waste minimisation.
Build relationships with subcontractors.