Sustainable waste management
Details of how waste will be minimised at the construction stage should be submitted with any planning application which demonstrates that:
- the construction practices minimise the use of raw materials and maximise the use of secondary aggregates and recycled or renewable materials;
- waste material generated by the proposal is reduced and re-used or recycled where appropriate on site (for example in landscaping not resulting in excessive earth moulding and mounding). There may be opportunities to utilise surplus soils for sustainable purposes elsewhere.
To do this effectively all waste streams and proposals for their management should be identified, including peat and other materials excavated on site and the importation of any waste materials to the site. Accordingly, we recommend that a site specific Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) be developed to address these points. This is in accordance with the objectives of Scottish Planning Policy and the National Waste Plan which aim to minimise waste production and reduce reliance on landfill for environmental and economic reasons.
Scottish Planning Policy
Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 
sets out the Scottish Government’s policy on nationally important land use planning matters. The SPP provides policy on waste management in Paragraphs 37, 39, as well 212-224.
Planning Advice Notes
Planning Advice Notes (PANS) provide advice on good practice and information including PAN 63 Waste Management and PAN 51 Planning, Environmental Protection and Regulation .
SEPA policy and guidance
Further guidance for developers can be found within the Waste Regulation section of the website.
Regulatory and Best Practice Advice
Peat is not always suitable for use within a development and may be regarded as waste in law. Developments on peat should seek to minimise peat excavation and disturbance to prevent the unnecessary production of waste soils and peat. For additional information on peat, please refer to Guidance on the Assessment of Peat Volumes, Reuse of Excavated Peat and Minimisation of Waste 
(2.6MB), our Regulatory Position Statement – Developments on Peat (8.56mb) and our page on surplus peat management. This includes reference to guidance Developments on Peatland: Site Surveys and Best Practice (96k).
Generally, waste material such as soil for landscaping or for any other purpose can only be imported to a site if a Waste Management License is in effect or if an activity exempt from licensing, such as proposals to reuse or recycle materials, has been registered with SEPA. Similarly, any waste removed from a site must be deposited either at a suitably licensed site or at a site for which a relevant exempt activity has been registered. We also have useful guidance on the sustainable reuse of greenfield soils in construction (2.52mb).
Developers can save money and help the environment by not over-ordering materials, using recycled material and minimising waste production during construction. Preparing a site waste management plan will help identify how much waste will be produced, how this can be minimised and what might be done with the waste. A Simple Guide to Site Waste Management Plans has a useful checklist and guide for creating a site waste management plan. Advice on minimising waste can be found within the Zero Waste section of the website.
Further advice on the reuse of demolition and excavation materials is available from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) .
Developers are strongly advised to approach their local SEPA office at the earliest appropriate time in the planning stages of the development to ensure that all the activities that may have waste management implications are clearly identified.