Skip to main content
Member Login
  • Members
  • Projects
  • Toolkits
  • Case Studies
  • News
  • About Us

RESPONSIBLE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TOOLKIT

  • HOW TO USE THIS TOOLKIT
  • MANAGING ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
  • OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
  • RATINGS & CERTIFICATIONS
  • ENERGY
  • WATER
  • WASTE
    • GN6.1: Duty of Care
    • GN6.2: Undertaking a waste audit
    • GN6.3: Site Waste Management Plans
    • GN6.4: Waste management opportunities
    • GN6.5: Waste management during refurbishment and fit-out
  • TRANSPORT
  • SOCIAL VALUE
  • SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
  • FIT-OUT & ALTERATIONS
  • OCCUPIER ENGAGEMENT
  • BIODIVERSITY
  • HEALTH & WELLBEING

GN 6.5: Waste management during refurbishment and fit-out

Guidance Note purpose 

The purpose of this Guidance Note is to provide guidance to asset managers, property managers and facilities managers in relation to the management of waste during refurbishment or fit-out activities. 

Context 

Refurbishment and fit-out activities represent ‘abnormal’ operating conditions within a property management setting.  It is important that procedures are in place to ensure that the activities that accompany refurbishment and fit-out are appropriately managed. 

From a waste management perspective, a Waste Management Plan is a central document that sets out the way in which waste associated with the refurbishment or fit-out project will be managed. 

The effectiveness of the Waste Management Plan will be influenced by how well a range of other factors associated with the project are managed.  These factors include: 

  • Increased vehicle movements to and from site. 
  • Increased numbers of contractors present on site. 
  • Reduced space in loading bays, service yards and/or car parks. 

Importance 

The benefits of managing waste associated with refurbishment and fit-out projects align with the broad range of environmental and business benefits associate with the adoption of the waste management hierarchy and general good waste management practice. 

As refurbishment and fit-out projects take place outside of ‘normal’ property management operating conditions, it is important that specific consideration is given to managing the associated waste in line with a property’s existing waste management arrangements.  This will contribute to the ongoing control of waste related risks and opportunities. 

The benefits of managing waste associated with refurbishment and fit-out projects can include: 

  • Contributing towards legal compliance, for example, in relation to duty of care. 
  • Reducing costs of materials and waste management services, which, in turn, can enable lower project costs. 
  • Maintaining constructive engagement with occupiers, as well as other property stakeholders, by demonstrating environmental responsibility. 

Managing waste during refurbishment and fit-out can also support property rating and certification schemes, such as SKA, for example.   

Responsibilities & Interests

The table below summarises the key activities associated with refurbishment and fit-out activities, and highlights where asset managers, property managers and facilities managers are likely to have a responsibility or specific interest. 

  • AM - Asset Manager
  • PM - Property Manager
  • FM - Facilities Manager

1. Waste Management Plan  

Stakeholder:

2. Vehicle access and movement 

Stakeholder:

3. Contractors on site 

Stakeholder:

4. Reductions in space in loading bays, service yards and/or car parks 

Stakeholder:

Show less

How to

Intro

Toggle

While the management of waste during a refurbishment or fit-out project is the responsibility of project’s main contractor, asset, property and facilities managers are likely to have interest in the associated Waste Management Plan, and ensuring that this plan is aligned with the property’s wider waste management arrangements. 

Property and facilities managers also have a role in coordinating activities at a property that may have the potential to influence a refurbishment or fit-out project, and the effective management of associated waste. 

1. Waste arising

Toggle

A Waste Management Plan should be prepared for the refurbishment and fit-out project.  This plan should set out the expected waste profile relating to the project, along with the arrangements for managing waste to achieve targets relating to waste generation and disposal methods. 

The Waste Management Plan should ensure that waste arising from the activities is managed in accordance with the waste hierarchy and either minimised through well managed procurement, managed separately to the wider building waste management system, segregated to recover as much material as possible for reuse or recycling, and collected at a frequency that allows the process to work smoothly. 

While the preparation and maintenance of a Waste Management Plan for a refurbishment or fit-out project is the responsibility of the main contractor, it is important that property and facilities managers, and where relevant, asset managers, are consulted and agree with the plan. 

It is also possible that facilities managers agree to undertaken specific waste management tasks in relation to the refurbishment or fit-out project. 

2. Vehicle movements to and from site

Toggle

A refurbishment or fit-out project may involve an increase in vehicles requiring access to and movement within the property site.  This can include both vehicles delivering materials and those providing waste services to the project. 

It is important that the property manager, or main contractor in co-ordination with the property manager, make resource available to check vehicles in and differentiate between whether they are servicing the building as a whole, or the refurbishment or fit out activity. 

3. Contractors on site

Toggle

A refurbishment or fit-out project will involve an increase in the number of contractors on site.  It is important that both new contractors are aware of waste management arrangements for the project they are engaged to work on, as well as that contractors on existing projects are aware of the rules relating to engagement with the refurbishment or fit-out project. 

It is important that the property manager engages the main contractor for the refurbishment or fit-out project and other projects on site to consider necessary waste related briefings at agreed intervals to all contractors attending site to ensure all fully understand the waste management arrangements and conditions of permits/permissions. 

4. Space in loading bays, service yards and/or car parks

Toggle

A refurbishment or fit-out project is likely to place temporary pressure on space for materials storage, waste management provision, parking, and welfare facilities which are fully segregated from the rest of the property. 

It is important that the property manager engages the main contractor for the refurbishment or fit-out project to understand the likely requirements for space as part of project planning.  These arrangements should be reviewed at regular intervals, including any feedback from occupiers regarding the extent to which arrangements for managing space are effective. 

  • BBP How to guide: how to manage waste during fit out

    pdf | 58 KB

Related Guidance Notes 

The following Guidance Notes contain related information: 

  • GN2.4: Maintenance, monitoring and the property management cycle 
  • GN6.1: Duty of Care 
  • GN6.2: Undertaking a waste audit 
  • GN6.3: Site Waste Management Plans 
  • GN6.4: Waste opportunities 
  • GN9.3 Embedding sustainability within waste management services 
  • GN 10.1:The fit-out process 
  • GN10.2: Alterations and dilapidations 
  • GN11.1: Building User Guide 
  • GN 11.2: Engaging occupiers 
  • GN11.3: Service charge considerations 

Additional resources 

  • MAP Industry Insight on ‘Improving UK Waste Management Practices: Standardised Reporting Framework' 
  • MAP Industry Insight on ‘Improving UK Waste Management Practices: Procurement Specifications’ 
  • BBP Transactional Agents Sustainability Toolkit 
  • BBP Responsible Fit-Out Toolkit: Offices 

RESPONSIBLE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TOOLKIT

  • HOW TO USE THIS TOOLKIT
  • MANAGING ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
  • OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
  • RATINGS & CERTIFICATIONS
  • ENERGY
  • WATER
  • WASTE
    • GN6.1: Duty of Care
    • GN6.2: Undertaking a waste audit
    • GN6.3: Site Waste Management Plans
    • GN6.4: Waste management opportunities
    • GN6.5: Waste management during refurbishment and fit-out
  • TRANSPORT
  • SOCIAL VALUE
  • SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
  • FIT-OUT & ALTERATIONS
  • OCCUPIER ENGAGEMENT
  • BIODIVERSITY
  • HEALTH & WELLBEING

Solutions Scrapbook

Two Sustainability World Firsts for Hammerson’s Elliott’s Field

At Elliott’s Field Phase II, Hammerson achieved two world firsts: the first ‘BREEAM Outstanding’ shopping park and the first ‘zero regulated carbon’ shopping park globally. These were key targets for the project team from the outset, achieved by incorporating passive design features and efficient building services to minimise energy demands, engagement with retailers on fit-outs and a major rooftop PV array to supply on-site electricity demand and offset emissions. 

Read the case study here.

Hammerson and B&Q Partner on Eco Learning Store

At Cyfarthfa Retail Park in Merthyr Tydfil, Hammerson and B&Q partnered to create an Eco Learning Store. It is one of the first projects in the UK to feature a Transpired Solar Collector system, which harvests the sun’s heat to warm the store’s interior, cutting energy bills and CO2 emissions. Other sustainability measures include rainwater harvesting, green roofs, low carbon materials and low energy lighting. The store presents a highly sustainable blueprint for retail parks and demonstrates the environmental and cost savings that can be achieved by owners and occupiers working together.

Read the case study here.

Aberdeen Asset Management Engages with Biffa on PV

Aberdeen Asset Management has completed the installation of a 250 kWp solar PV (photovoltaic) array on an investment property within its UK portfolio. The industrial installation, comprising 1,000 solar panels, will provide renewable energy to occupier Biffa Waste Services, at a discount versus National Grid rates.

Read the case study here.

Previous pageGN6.4: Waste management opportunities
Page 39 of 70
Next pageTRANSPORT

Connect with us

The BBP is a collaboration of leading property owners who are working together to improve the sustainability of commercial buildings.

Contact Us

Managing Agents Partnership

The Managing Agents Partnership is a collaboration of the UK’s leading property managers who are committed to improving the sustainable management of commercial property assets

Managing Agents Partnership

All Resources

Connect with us

Twitter LinkedIn

Signup for our newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

© Better Buildings Partnership 2025

  • Credits
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookie policy
  • Accessibility

Crafted by Un.titled