In championing the science, ethics and practice of the built environment, CIOB members are always looking to stay ahead of developments in their field. Some areas, such as health and safety and sustainability are front and centre of every project and activity. 

Another such area is resource, recycling and wastes management, vital for the combination of cost efficiency, compliance and competitive edge it can offer as well as the circular economy benefits when done well. That’s why we recommend you keep up to date with changing requirements as part of your personal and professional development planning. 

The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management’s (CIWM) Technical Manager Tina Benfield gives the low down on the latest waste policy and regulatory changes and the detail you need to know.

Waste policy, regulation and the built environment

Construction, demolition and excavation (CD&E) waste streams have seen important policy changes recently that impact on the operations and processes that must be followed by site managers and sub-contractors.

CD&E waste is one of the most significant of all material streams by weight, volume and potential impact, making it a priority area for the Government within the development of its current Circular Economy Strategy and Sector Roadmaps due to be published in the autumn. 

Sustainability has always been a prominent feature since the 70% non-hazardous construction and demolition waste recovery target was introduced by the 2008 EU Waste Framework Directive, a target that was surpassed in 2010.

Persistent Organic Pollutants in the CD&E material stream

Having a recovery rate of 93.8% does not mean the sector can sit on its laurels. Recent changes in the Stockholm Convention list that would also include contamination from persistent organic pollutants (POPs) could reduce this recovery rate, as material streams that could contain POPs will have to be assessed to see if they can be reused, recycled or recovered.

POPs are chemicals that are added to materials to improve their properties, for example by making them more elastic, flame retardant or less vulnerable to UV light, and can be found in everything from sealants to plastic and wiring. The main treatment or disposal route for POP contaminated waste materials is incineration, as POPs must be destroyed and therefore cannot be landfilled.

However, incineration impacts on carbon emissions, with the Government intending to bring energy from waste facilities into the Emissions Trading Scheme from 2028. Key considerations include: 

• How far does the material have to travel?
• How much plastic content is there?
• Is carbon capture fitted to the facility?

Landfill Tax Reform

The proposed Landfill Tax Reform could also impact the built environment sector from 2030.

The changes being proposed by Treasury and HMRC would see the lower rate for inert materials like rocks and soil increased from £4.03 per tonne to match the standard rate, which currently sits at £126.15 per tonne.

The built environment sector knows that projects do not always run smoothly. There are hitches; things change, and unknowns are discovered during the building process. This means that, as directed in your resource management plan system, material that cannot find a place on site–must go somewhere. Can it be used elsewhere and does it fit with Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoWCoP) or Resource Frameworks? 

A recent CIOB webinar looked at this topic in more detail.

The importance of managing your waste streams 

Both these proposed policy changes highlight the importance of properly understanding and managing your materials and waste streams.

Government wants to build more homes, prioritising brownfield development and this comes with potential issues around contamination. Materials can be processed but eventually a site is likely to have a waste stream it cannot utilise, and this is where the potential changes in the landfill tax reform come into play. 

Is there capacity to handle all the materials coming from new housing developments that are happening at the same time as other infrastructure projects? The changes in the landfill tax reform could make a big difference to the viability of a project.

With governments and built environment businesses implementing policies that incentivise low-carbon materials, promote retrofitting, and reduce carbon emissions associated with construction, alongside a notable shift towards climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity net gain, and circular economy principles, more than ever before you do need to be aware of the impact on your management of materials and waste streams on site.

Keeping up to date with requirements in this area should be something that you incorporate into your wider sustainability knowledge development plan. Green skills and knowledge, increasingly in demand both now and in the future, are a crucial part of your professional development and can not only help you avoid unexpected costs and delays or compliance issues in your projects but also make the difference when bidding for work or seeking new career opportunities. CIWM offers a range of training courses which can help you build your expertise and ensure that you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving environmental and sustainability landscape.