Benchmarks for predicting and forecasting Construction Waste

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SMARTWASTE A Planning Authority Perspective
Roy Romans Team Leader - Minerals and Waste
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Local Government in Bedfordshire

• As from 1 April 2009, Bedford Borough, Central
  Beds and Luton Unitaries.
• Shared Minerals and Waste Planning service is
  provided to Bedford Borough and Central
  Bedfordshire with forward planning provided for
  Luton.

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Planning and waste management

• Waste management is fundamental to the delivery
  of sustainable communities. Planning for
  sustainable waste management requires integration
  with other areas of spatial planning. Waste
  should not be considered in isolation from other
  planning concerns, even when addressed through
  thematic LDD. Early and ongoing dialogue between
  relevant local authorities will promote
  consistency and the integration of waste
  management with other spatial planning matters.
• Planning for Sustainable Waste Management A
  Companion Guide to PPS10

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How authorities in Bedfordshire have approached
this

• Policy W5 of the adopted Minerals and Waste Local
  Plan (2005)
• Proposals that are likely to generate significant
  volumes of waste through the development or
  operational phases will be required to include a
  waste audit as part of the application. This
  audit should demonstrate that in both
  construction and operational phases of a proposed
  development, waste will be minimised as far as
  possible and that such waste as is generated will
  be managed in an appropriate manner in accordance
  with the Waste Hierarchy. In particular, the
  waste audit should include the following
  information

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Policy W5 continued

• the anticipated nature and volumes of waste that
  the development will generate
• where appropriate, the steps to be taken to
  ensure the maximum amount of waste arising from
  development on previously developed land is
  incorporated within the new development
• the steps to be taken to ensure effective
  segregation of wastes at source including, as
  appropriate, the provision of waste sorting,
  storage, recovery and recycling facilities
• any other steps to be taken to manage the waste
  that cannot be incorporated within the new
  development or that arises once development is
  complete.
• Before granting planning permission, the LPA will
  need to be satisfied that the measures identified
  in the waste audit represent appropriate waste
  management solutions in light of the Waste
  Hierarchy. Where appropriate, the LPA may
  require additional waste management measures in
  order to facilitate the movement of waste
  management up the Hierarchy.

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Has it worked?

• Some district council planning officers more
  enthusiastic than others.
• Mixed reception from developers.
• Approximately 200 audits received by the County
  Council for approval.
• Does reality reflect theory?

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Benefits of SMARTWASTE

• Provides a standard format that can is accessible
  and can therefore promoted relatively easily.
• Captures the data entered without the need to
  survey.
• Allows for relatively easy interrogation of the
  data collected.
• Provides an ongoing source of information for
  waste arisings which are difficult to monitor.

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Uses of SMARTWASTE for Planning Purposes

• Part of technical evidence paper for regional
  planning.
• Part of evidence base for waste local development
  frameworks.
• Part of monitoring process for both.

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What does this mean?

• Better planning based on better information
  should lead to a reduction in the amount of waste
  going to landfill.