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International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

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CIRIA research found that implementation <strong>of</strong> a WMP could result in 50% savings in<br />

waste handling charges and 40% savings on disposal costs. Although this research<br />

was published several years ago, when WMPs were a voluntary practice, it still shows<br />

in very approximate terms that the savings can be significant. 769<br />

More recent evidence from a NetRegs survey, published 6 months after WMPs were<br />

mandated in England, showed that construction companies are saving at least<br />

£2,637 per year under the WMP system. In addition to this, 25% <strong>of</strong> companies<br />

implementing WMPs believed it to have helped them win new contracts by increasing<br />

their environmental credentials. 770<br />

Although it can be argued, and is shown from the BRE, CIRIA and NetReg evidence,<br />

that in the long-term, implementing WMP will benefit C&D companies with cost<br />

savings from reduced waste disposal costs, in the short-term they require investment<br />

and could affect tendering prices. Feedback from the construction industry in Hong<br />

Kong suggests that during the early stages <strong>of</strong> implementation, levels <strong>of</strong> productivity<br />

can be impacted upon significantly. However, when all companies reach the required<br />

level <strong>of</strong> skill and expertise needed to efficiently implement a WMP, then the costs are<br />

likely to fall back, with the benefits then being more likely to exceed the costs. 771<br />

43.7 Effects on Technical Change / Innovation<br />

Mandatory WMPs bring the issue <strong>of</strong> waste management on C&D sites to the forefront.<br />

As a result <strong>of</strong> this, and possibly the general heightened awareness <strong>of</strong> environmental<br />

issues, there is currently much discussion surrounding waste prevention initiatives in<br />

the C&D sector. For example, the current EU Eco-design Directive (2005) purely<br />

focuses on energy efficiency at this stage but it is thought that future revisions may<br />

cover a much wider remit, including waste. Initiatives are also being introduced such<br />

as WRAP’s Plasterboard Programme, being run in the UK, which focuses on waste<br />

minimisation and recycling. This is closely linked to the ban on landfilling <strong>of</strong> gypsum<br />

introduced recently in the UK. The use <strong>of</strong> prefabricated building components is<br />

thought to be instrumental in preventing waste during construction in Hong<br />

Kong. 772773<br />

769 S. Coventry, B. Shorter & M. Kingsley (2001) Demonstrating <strong>Waste</strong> Minimisation Benefits in<br />

Construction, Construction Industry Research and Information Association, Publication C536.<br />

770 Construction News Portal (2009) Construction Business Still Unaware That SWMPs Are Mandatory<br />

For Projects Over £300,000, Accessed 16 th January 2009,<br />

http://www.constructionnewsportal.com/construction_article6511.html<br />

771 S. Coventry, B. Shorter & M. Kingsley (2001) Demonstrating <strong>Waste</strong> Minimisation Benefits in<br />

Construction, Construction Industry Research and Information Association, Publication C536.<br />

772 WRAP (2008) Accessed 15 th October 2008)<br />

http://www.wrap.org.uk/construction/plasterboard/index.html<br />

773 V.W.Y. Tam (2007) On the Effectiveness in Implementing a <strong>Waste</strong>-<strong>Management</strong>-Plan Method in<br />

Construction.<br />

640<br />

29/09/09

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