Environmental Management

What is 'environmental management' in construction?

• AA requirement that applies only to projects above a set contract value or those needing full planning consent
• BControlling construction impacts on the environment: waste, pollution, water, ecosystems, and air quality✓
• CTree planting, landscaping and reinstatement once the works are finished
• DA planning matter dealt with before work starts, not during construction

Answer: Environmental management in construction addresses: waste management, pollution prevention, water management, dust/noise control, and ecological protection.

What is the 'waste hierarchy' in environmental management?

• ARecycle first, then reuse, then prevent waste arising
• BCheapest route first
• CPrevention, preparing for re-use, recycling, other recovery, and disposal as a last resort✓
• DLandfill first

Answer: The waste hierarchy (from best to worst) has five steps in law: prevention; preparing for re-use; recycling; other recovery (including energy recovery); disposal. Each should be pursued in order before moving to the next.

What is 'duty of care' regarding construction waste?

• AA duty applying to hazardous waste, with inert waste exempt from the paperwork
• BA duty that passes to the licensed waste carrier as soon as the loaded skip has left the site gate for the transfer station
• CAn obligation that applies to waste visible from outside the site
• DLegal obligation to handle, store, and dispose of waste responsibly using licensed contractors and documentation✓

Answer: Duty of care for waste requires: proper containment, segregation, storage (secure and protected), use of licensed waste contractors, and documentation of waste transfer.

What is a 'Site Waste Management Plan' (SWMP) and what does it cover?

• ADocument planning waste segregation, reuse, recycling, and disposal routes for different waste streams✓
• BA record of the skip collections booked during the project, which is kept for the client's final account
• CA plan submitted to building control for approval before the foundations can be inspected and signed off
• DA document listing the site's hazardous substances, prepared for the COSHH assessments at the tender stage

Answer: A SWMP identifies: waste types likely, minimisation strategies, reuse/recycling opportunities, licensed contractors, disposal routes, and monitoring procedures. A SWMP is no longer a legal requirement in England but remains good practice. The legal duties are the waste duty of care and the waste hierarchy.

What are 'construction waste' types and segregation requirements?

• AHazardous waste may be mixed with inert waste in a single skip, provided the skip is sheeted and covered
• BSegregation is dispensed with provided the waste is taken away by a registered carrier under a transfer note
• CWood, metals, plastics, concrete, brick, insulation; segregation required for recovery/recycling✓
• DWood, metal and plastic, since concrete and brick are classed as hazardous

Answer: Construction waste types: concrete, brick, soil, wood, metals, plastics, plasterboard, insulation. Segregation enables recovery and recycling, and keeps hazardous waste out of the other streams.

What is 'pollution prevention' in construction?

• APreventing soil, water, and air pollution through spill control, dust management, and proper chemical storage✓
• BPainting site hoardings
• CA duty limited to chemical spills, with dust and noise handled separately
• DAction after a spill occurs

Answer: Pollution prevention includes: secondary containment for fuels/oils, proper drainage, dust suppression, chemical storage (labelling, segregation), and spill response procedures.

What is 'dust control' and what methods are used?

• AOnly on windy days
• BOf minor concern
• CDry sweeping, followed by disposal of the sweepings in the general waste skip
• DMethods to minimise dust: water spraying, extraction systems, barriers, and work scheduling✓

Answer: Dust control measures: water spraying (damping down), local extraction, hoarding/barriers, work scheduling (avoid dusty tasks in high wind), and respiratory protection.

What is 'noise pollution' control in construction?

• ALimiting noise impact on neighbours through equipment selection, silencers, screening, and restricted hours✓
• BLeft uncontrolled
• CIssuing ear defenders, rotating operatives and posting hearing protection signs
• DOnly for residential areas

Answer: Noise control: quieter equipment, silencers, acoustic screening, work hour restrictions, monitoring, and neighbour notification. Limits are set by the local authority, using BS 5228 and a section 61 consent.

What is 'water management' in construction environmental protection?

• AControls needed on large sites, as run-off from a small site is too little to pollute a nearby watercourse
• BPumping standing water off the site and into the nearest surface water drain as quickly as it can be done
• CProtecting water from pollution: silt fences, settling tanks, spill containment, and controlling run-off✓
• DMeasures for testing the site's drinking water supply for bacteria

Answer: Water protection includes: intercepting silt/sediment (silt fences, settling ponds), preventing fuel/chemical spills (containment), managing surface water, and dewatering control.

What is the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and its relevance to construction?

• AAn Act covering wildlife protection, tree preservation and planning consent
• BDemolition licensing
• CPlanning for large sites
• DAct providing framework for waste management, pollution control, and environmental duties✓

Answer: The Environmental Protection Act 1990 sets the waste duty of care (section 34): waste must be stored securely, passed only to an authorised person such as a registered carrier, and described in writing when transferred. Part III covers statutory nuisances, such as dust, smoke and noise from a site. In England and Wales, waste permits now sit under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016.

What is 'ecological impact' and when is an assessment needed?

• APotential effects on wildlife/habitats; assessment needed for large projects, sensitive locations, or protected species✓
• BAn assessment of the site's carbon footprint, made after the works are complete
• CA survey carried out by the local authority before planning consent
• DAn assessment needed where a building over a certain footprint is proposed on a greenfield site, and waived on brownfield land

Answer: Ecological surveys and impact assessments are needed for projects affecting: protected species, designated habitats, water bodies, woodlands, or large sites. Mitigation is required.

What are 'hazardous construction wastes' requiring special handling?

• ASubstances labelled as very toxic, since anything else can be dealt with in the site's general skip
• BAsbestos, paints, solvents, oils, and batteries requiring licensed disposal and documentation✓
• COrdinary construction rubble and timber offcuts, which are classed as hazardous because of their volume
• DAsbestos alone, since paints, solvents and used oils may be placed in the site's general waste skip

Answer: Hazardous wastes in construction include: asbestos (licensed disposal), oils/fluids, paints/solvents, batteries, fluorescent tubes (mercury), and PCBs. These require special contracts and tracking.

What is 'air quality' management in construction?

• AIrrelevant on construction sites, where work in the open air keeps emissions below harmful levels
• BMonitoring and controlling emissions: dust, fumes from equipment, and vehicle emissions✓
• CA matter of controlling the indoor temperature and humidity inside the site welfare cabins
• DControls limited to exhaust emissions from plant engines, since dust and fumes are not air quality issues

Answer: Air quality management: diesel engine controls (SCR filters), dust suppression, equipment maintenance, traffic management, and monitoring of air quality impacts.

What is 'sustainable construction' and how is it practised?

• AA planning condition set by the local authority, applying to publicly funded projects
• BMinimising environmental impact through waste reduction, recycling, sustainable materials, and energy efficiency✓
• CMaximising build speed
• DUsing the cheapest supplier

Answer: Sustainable construction: source sustainably-certified materials, minimise waste, maximise recycling, use renewable energy where possible, and reduce water use.

What is 'environmental impact assessment' (EIA) and when is it required?

• AOptional
• BAn assessment required before demolition work, because building a new structure has no lasting environmental impact of its own
• CMining permits
• DAssessment of project impacts on environment; required for large projects, sensitive locations, and Schedule 1/2 developments✓

Answer: Under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, EIA is required for every Schedule 1 project, such as a motorway or large power station. A Schedule 2 project, typically a larger scheme or one in a sensitive location, needs EIA where screening finds it is likely to have significant environmental effects because of its nature, size or location; exceeding a Schedule 2 threshold triggers screening rather than automatic EIA.

What must be included in an 'Environmental Management Plan'?

• AThe waste arrangements, since pollution, ecology and monitoring are covered by the planning conditions attached to the site
• BA short statement of general intent signed by a director, with the detail left to individual site teams to work out for themselves
• CWaste management, pollution prevention, air/water/soil protection, ecological measures, monitoring, and responsibilities✓
• DA plan prepared by the local planning authority, which the contractor then receives as part of the formal tender documentation

Answer: Environmental Management Plans should detail: waste management (segregation, disposal), pollution prevention (spill control, dust, noise), resource use (water, energy), and monitoring procedures.

What is 'contaminated land' and what are remediation requirements?

• ALand where contamination is visible at the surface, dealt with by covering it over with clean imported topsoil and turf
• BUnimportant
• CLand with harmful substances; requires assessment and remediation to prevent harm to human health or ecosystems✓
• DOnly from spills

Answer: Contaminated land (Environmental Protection Act 1990) requires: historical survey, risk assessment, remediation if necessary, and safe management/encapsulation if left in place.

What is 'Protected Species' in environmental law and contractor obligations?

• AOutside contractors' remit
• BNesting birds only, since bats, badgers and great crested newts are matters dealt with entirely by the local planning authority
• CSpecies legally protected (newts, bats, badgers); contractors must avoid harm and get licences for necessary disturbance✓
• DOnly during breeding season

Answer: Protected species (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981): badgers, bats, great crested newts, nesting birds. Contractors must: avoid harm, get licences for disturbance, and implement mitigation.

What is 'fuel and oil management' on construction sites?

• AArrangements needed for plant with large fuel tanks, as small bowsers and jerrycans present no real risk of pollution
• BSecure storage with secondary containment, spill prevention procedures, fuelling away from water, and safe disposal✓
• CA housekeeping matter handled by the plant operators from day to day
• DDiesel and petrol, since hydraulic oils and greases are not classed as polluting if they are spilt on the ground on site

Answer: Fuel/oil management: secondary containment (bunds) holding 110% of largest container, storage away from water, labelling, spill kits, regular inspections, and safe fuelling procedures.

What does environmental legislation require regarding 'environmental compliance' on construction sites?

• ACompliance needed only on large sites, since smaller projects fall outside the scope of environmental legislation
• BCompliance with the Environmental Protection Act alone, as the main statute
• CMeeting the main statutory duties only, since planning conditions and permits are entirely the client's concern
• DCompliance with all applicable environmental law: the Environmental Protection Act, Water Resources Act, Environmental Permitting Regulations, planning conditions and site permits✓

Answer: Construction must comply with: Environmental Protection Act, Water Resources Act, Environmental Permitting Regulations, planning conditions, and site-specific environmental permits.