Southwest Environmental Limited

Waste Recovery Plan - Construction of Bund

The visual impact of the (for example - acoustic might be another) grain stores can be mitigated via the construction of the proposed bund, the bund extends to around 4 meters in height, which will obscure the view of the grain store when viewing from the open country side. On completion of the bund trees are to be planted along the ridge to increase its effectiveness as a visual barrier.

The bund is a logical choice for a visual barrier owing to the waste stream being produced by PPP, rather than this waste go to landfill it is a more sustainable option to recover this waste in the construction of a bund that mitigates visual impact. Trees would be slow to provide this barrier perhaps taking 10 years or more to grow to a sufficient height to provide a visual barrier, other manufactured solution would create unjustified environmental impacts owing to the ready and plentiful source of inert materials occurring on a daily basis, from the company’s construction activities.

So as to prove the mitigating effect of the bund with regards to visual impact a selection of 3D visualisations should be prepared;

 
Site Condition Report
Environmental Management System

The below section was written by a machine.

Technical Requirements for Waste Recovery Bund Construction

The construction of a bund using waste materials is governed by strict regulatory definitions to ensure the activity constitutes recovery rather than disposal. A successful Waste Recovery Plan (WRP) must provide compelling evidence that the waste is substituting for non-waste materials that would otherwise have been used. This distinction is critical for project financial viability and for maintaining compliance with the Waste Framework Directive.

Substitution and Environmental Benefit

To satisfy the Environment Agency (EA), a WRP for bund construction must demonstrate that the project serves a clear functional purpose and provides a distinct environmental or economic benefit. This often involves proving an obligation to mitigate impacts identified in a planning consent or impact assessment.

• Substitution Evidence: Documentation proving that if waste were unavailable, primary materials would be purchased to fulfill the construction requirement.
• Visual Mitigation: Utilizing 3D virtualization and Visual Impact Assessments to justify the required height and scale of the bund to obscure industrial or agricultural structures.
• Acoustic Performance: Designing bund profiles to act as effective noise barriers, often supporting findings in a site-specific Noise Impact Assessment.
• Landfill Diversion: Promoting the circular economy by repurposing inert soils and construction materials produced on-site or through local activity.

Regulatory Compliance and Documentation

The operational phase of bund construction requires rigorous monitoring and management protocols to ensure that only suitable inert materials are recovered and that environmental risks are mitigated throughout the build.

• Environmental Management System (EMS): Implementing a robust EMS to track waste types, quantities, and placement locations in accordance with permit conditions.
• Site Condition Reports (SCR): Establishing a baseline through Site Condition Reports to ensure the underlying land and groundwater are protected from contamination.
• Permit Exemptions: Evaluating whether small-scale bund projects can be managed via U1 Use of Waste in Construction exemptions or if a bespoke recovery permit is necessary.
• Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP): Integrating bund construction within a broader CEMP to manage dust, noise, and runoff during the operational period.

Professional Technical Support

With 15 years of industry experience and over 900 projects delivered across the UK, Southwest Environmental Limited (SWEL) provides the technical authority required for complex waste recovery applications. Our team of consultants (IES/FGS) bridges the gap between engineering design and environmental regulation, ensuring that your bund construction project meets both practical mitigation needs and stringent legal requirements. By integrating waste recovery planning with overall Planning Statements, we provide a comprehensive route to regulatory success.