Companies handling construction waste in Wales can now sign up to a standard recognising that they are disposing of it correctly and in line with their Duty of Care.

Launched by Constructing Excellence in Wales (CEW) and Jane Davidson, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, the ‘Green Compass’ standard is the first of several planned initiatives intended to ensure construction and demolition waste is being disposed of safely and environmentally.

In 2005, one third of waste sent to licensed waste management sites in Wales was from the construction sector, with over half ending up in landfill. The standard – which was developed in cooperation with the industry – is part of several initiatives being developed to potentially divert “significant quantities” of construction waste away from landfill.

Speaking at the launch of the standard on Monday (September 29), Ms Davidson said: “I have awarded £1.5 million of funding to CEW for three years to help the industry reduce and recycle more of its waste. CEW is now turning ideas into action in the form of the Construction Waste Programme.”

“The construction industry has been on board every step of the way to develop this programme and suggest ways of improving the current situation. Green Compass is a result of one of these ideas; I believe it will make a big impact on diverting significant quantities of waste from landfill and also help minimise our carbon footprint,” she added.

CEW has commissioned the British Standards Institution (BSI) to develop the ‘Green Compass’ standard as a Publicly Available Specification (PAS 402), with companies invited to sign up and demonstrate sound waste management for potential customers.

The scheme is currently being developed further through a pilot scheme with ten companies testing the standard in a trial which will run until July 2009. A public consultation will also be held to seek a wider selection of views from stakeholders on the intent of the scheme.

Paul Jennings, CEW’s construction waste programme director, said: “We have a huge task to reach out, educate and work with the entire construction waste industry in Wales and in time we will address each aspect of the construction process, but the best starting point is the actual handling of waste itself.” More at Let’sRecycle.

More about construction waste and Site Waste Management Plans.