Marks & Spencer is the first company to sign up as a gold member to BRE’s new SMARTWaste membership scheme, which provides organisations with a one-stop shop for preparing, implementing and reviewing Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) on their developments.

The construction and demolition sector currently generates more waste than any other sector in the UK, producing over 100 million tonnes of waste every year. The aim of the new scheme is to support organisations in reducing their waste outputs, not only for the benefit of the environment but also for their own business benefit.

Beulah Keane, M&S’s project manager for Plan A and sustainable construction, said: “All M&S contractors have been reporting construction waste activity using BRE’s SMARTWaste plan tool since January 2008. We believe the use of SMARTWaste as both a measuring and tracking tool, and the format in which we capture SWMPs, have helped to bring waste to life onsite and encourage the supply base to be more aware of the waste they generate. Signing up to a SMARTWaste gold membership package will allow M&S to receive the expert support and guidance from BRE’s resource efficiency team and help us to drive down waste on site.”

The membership scheme demonstrates a complete commitment by organisations wishing to deliver best practice site waste management plans, which are now a legal requirement for all construction projects over £300,000 in England.
BRE’s SMARTWaste membership scheme manager, Stuart Blofeld, said: “We are absolutely delighted that a company such as M&S, which is totally committed to delivering on sustainability through their Plan A  programme, has recognised the value that the SMARTWaste membership scheme can bring to an organisation like theirs in targeting and reducing waste arisings on construction projects.”

For further information on the SMARTWaste membership scheme visit www.smartwaste.co.uk.