Setting the Standard for Waste Handling

Constructing Excellence in Wales (CEW) has worked with BSI to develop PAS 402 as part of its Green Compass waste programme, which gives assurance to anyone disposing of construction waste that it will be collected, checked, recycled or disposed of in an environmentally sound fashion. PAS 402 provides the framework for waste management organizations to demonstrate performance in key areas. Green Compass, managed by CEW on behalf of the Welsh Assembly, is the first scheme of its kind in the UK and is expected to make a significant contribution to minimising the levels of waste going to landfill.

Builders and construction companies wishing to specify their waste contractor on the basis of demonstrable, sound waste management will be able to use compliance with PAS 402, verified by Green Compass inspection, to help make the selection.  Consequently the scheme will allow more construction and demolition waste to be recycled and diverted from landfill. 

As part of the Green Compass Pilot Project which has been running since September 2008, waste handlers taking part have been assessed and the waste recovery rates (i.e. waste diverted from landfill) have been between 43% and 100%.  The Welsh Assembly Government target is that 85% of all construction and demolition waste must be re-sued and recycled by 2010.

Sir David John, Chairman of BSI, said: “This is a major step forward for the waste handling sector and the construction industry as a whole.  Construction generates more waste than any other sector and a standard for its disposal and management was urgently required.  We can already see the benefits that PAS 402 will bring based on the evidence from the Green Compass Pilot Project.  Working alongside CEW, we have been able to access a lot of expertise in the field of waste handling to develop a robust, practical framework that will not only benefit the construction industry, but help divert significant levels of waste from landfill, achieving national environmental targets.”

Emma Cottrell, waste programme manager for CEW, commented: “Managing the disposal of waste is critical to improving diversion rates and making sure as much material as possible can be recovered and not sent to landfill.  PAS 402 will give everyone in the industry confidence and reassurance that the construction and demolition material that goes into a skip and leaves a site will be handled according to a strict standard.”

The specification is organised around the demonstration of performance against key areas of delivery, including landfill diversion and materials recovery, assuring potential and existing customers of the service they are procuring. 

The specification was developed by an expert Steering Group which included CEW representatives in collaboration with BSI and involved consultation with the ten Green Compass Pathfinders.  It also went through a public consultation stage, with the resulting comments fed back to the Steering Group.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

For information about Constructing Excellence in Wales call 02920 493322 or for press information please call Andrew Brown on 07795 547069.

For media information about BSI please call Lucy Fulton, Public Relations Officer on 020 8996 7248 or 07717 451 990.

About CEW
Constructing Excellence in Wales is the umbrella organisation for the construction industry in Wales.  The long term goal is to improve the construction process in Wales and ensure the principles of rethinking construction outlined by the Egan and Latham reports become mainstream industry practice.  Constructing Excellence in Wales (CEW) works with all parts of the industry – from Welsh Assembly Government, local government and health authorities, through to developers, construction firms and sole traders – to promote best practice.

About BSI
BSI is a global independent business services organization that inspires confidence and delivers assurance to over 80,000 customers with standards-based solutions. Originating as the world’s first national standards body, BSI has over 2,400 staff operating in over 120 countries through more than 50 global offices. BSI’s key offerings are:

• The development and sale of private, national and international standards and supporting information that promote and share best practice
• Second and third-party management systems assessment and certification in all critical areas of management disciplines
• Testing and certification of services and products for Kitemark and CE marking to UK, European and International standards. BSI is a Notified Body for 17 New Approach EU Directives
• Certification of high-risk, complex medical devices
• Performance management software solutions
• Training services in support of standards implementation and business best practice.

For further information please visit www.bsigroup.com