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How SmartWaste supports BREEAM

SmartWaste is BRE's sustainability reporting platform for construction. It helps project teams record the site data that BREEAM assessments rely on, such as waste, energy, water, transport and timber. Assessors then have one report that holds the evidence for the credits SmartWaste supports. 

See how SmartWaste supports BREEAM 

Wst 01 and Man 03 

The two BREEAM issues where the New Construction V7.1 manual names SmartWaste 

Hundreds of projects 

BREEAM based its construction waste benchmarks on SmartWaste data from projects between July 2008 and July 2016 

500+ KPIs 

Key performance indicators (KPIs) SmartWaste can report on 

Source: BREEAM UK New Construction V7.1 technical manual, Wst 01 and Man 03 guidance. 

Why project teams use SmartWaste for BREEAM 

smartwaste functions

Record evidence as you build 
Record waste, energy, water and deliveries as they happen on site. When the project reaches handover, your evidence for the credits SmartWaste covers is complete. 

breeam version project

Know your credit position during the build 
SmartWaste shows your waste per 100 sq m against the Wst 01 benchmarks while the project is live. If you are off target, your site team has time to act. 

documents from your supply chain

Figures in the units BREEAM asks for 
SmartWaste calculates waste per 100 sq m, diversion from landfill by weight, carbon emissions from site energy (kgCO₂e) and net water use in the units the criteria ask for. 

assessor report using smartwaste

One report for your assessor 
Your assessor gets your targets, actual figures and supporting documents, such as your environmental management system certificate, together in one BREEAM report. You can upload the report to the BREEAM platform as evidence. 

waste record

Documents from your supply chain 
Your waste carriers and subcontractors can upload waste transfer notes and delivery documents directly, so SmartWaste holds the record behind each figure. 

data from smartwaste app

The BREEAM version your project uses 
Select the version of BREEAM UK New Construction your project is registered under, from V6.1 to V7.1. 

BREEAM built its waste benchmarks on SmartWaste data 

Each Wst 01 credit level matches a share of the SmartWaste projects BREEAM used to set the benchmarks. One credit means your project performs in the top half of those projects. Three credits means it performs in the top 10%. 

BREEAM leaves demolition and excavation waste out of these benchmarks because the amount depends on the site. It assesses that waste through the diversion from landfill credit instead. 

Wst 01 construction resource efficiency benchmarks

Non-hazardous construction waste, tonnes per 100 m² of gross internal floor area. Lower is better.

One credit Top 50% of projects
≤11.1
Two credits Top 25% of projects
≤6.5
Three credits Top 10% of projects
≤3.2
Exemplary level Top 5% of projects
≤1.9

Source: BREEAM UK New Construction V7.1 technical manual, Wst 01, Table 10.1.ent here. Like heading, text, links, and lists for a better user experience.

How SmartWaste helps you evidence BREEAM credits

The SmartWaste BREEAM report covers three issues in BREEAM UK New Construction: Wst 01, Man 03 and Mat 05. Open an issue to see what SmartWaste records for it. 

BREEAM UK New Construction V7.1 

Credit 
What SmartWaste records 

Pre-demolition audit (one credit) 

Records that the audit is complete, holds a copy and compares forecast with actual demolition waste. A competent person must carry out the audit. BRE offers pre-demolition audits. 

Construction resource efficiency (up to three credits) 

Prepare and review your resource management plan, record waste by waste group and report tonnes per 100 sq m against Table 10.1. 

Diversion from landfill (one credit) 

Reports construction, demolition and excavation waste diverted from landfill, by weight, against Table 10.2. 

Exemplary level (one credit) 

Shows whether waste generated and diversion rates meet the exemplary benchmarks. 
Credit 
What SmartWaste records 

Legal and sustainable site timber (prerequisite) 

Reports the percentage of timber and timber-based products that is legally harvested and traded. 

Environmental management (one credit) 

Stores the environmental management system certificate and pollution prevention policy. 

Monitoring utility consumption (one credit) 

Records electricity, gas, fuel and water against design-stage targets and reports total carbon emissions (kgCO₂e) and net water use. 

Monitoring transport of materials and waste (one credit) 

Reports fuel, carbon emissions and distance travelled, separately for material deliveries and waste removals. 

What you evidence outside SmartWaste 

The BREEAM Advisory Professional site credit and the responsible construction management checklist. 

Credit 
What SmartWaste records 

Material efficiency (one credit) 

The BREEAM Advisory Professional site credit and the responsible construction management checklist. 

See how SmartWaste records evidence on your BREEAM projects

Book a private demonstration

We will walk your team through SmartWaste in 30 minutes, from setting targets in the resource management plan to the report your assessor receives. 

What our customers say 

We’re encouraging our contractors to engage with SmartWaste Scan to improve compliance and contribute to our sustainability targets. The ease of use of the tool means that we’re seeing much more reported, both in material types and volume than previously. This data will help inform our long-term sustainability ambitions and build up evidence for our schemes subject to BREEAM targets.
Simon Mintoft, Environmental Manager, Ardmore Construction 
The complexity has been minimised, resulting in valuable time savings. In addition to this, as an organisation with a keen focus on achieving the highest standards, it is a big benefit that SmartWaste aligns with BREEAM principles
Callum Scott, Project Sustainability Manager, Canary Wharf Contractors 
The SmartWaste Scan application has allowed us to record delivery tickets at the site entrance before they are passed on to the subcontractor
Toby Harvell, Sustainability Manager, VolkerFitzpatrick 

BREEAM projects using SmartWaste 

Asset Publisher
Case Study

VolkerFitzpatrick pilots new SmartWaste Scan app on Prologis Park BREEAM project.

https://bregroup.com/case-studies/volkerfitzpatrick-pilots-new-smartwaste-scan-app
Case Study

Robertson Group pilots new SmartWaste Scan app on BREEAM project

https://bregroup.com/case-studies/robertson-group-pilots-new-smartwaste-scan-app
Canary Wharf
Waste

Canary Wharf Uses SmartWaste to Increase Efficiency

https://bregroup.com/case-studies/canary-wharf-contractors-and-smartwaste

FAQs on SmartWaste and BREEAM 

The BREEAM UK New Construction V7.1 technical manual names SmartWaste as a tool for preparing and reviewing a resource management plan and for reporting waste against the Wst 01 benchmarks. It notes that other tools may be available. 

No. Assessors accept any evidence that meets the criteria. SmartWaste records your data in the units the criteria ask for, which saves you compiling evidence at the end of a project. 

SmartWaste produces a BREEAM report for BREEAM UK New Construction, covering Wst 01, Man 03 and Mat 05. You can select the version your project is registered under, from V6.1 to V7.1. The BREEAM UK New Construction V7.1 technical manual names SmartWaste for Wst 01 and Man 03. 

No. BREEAM requires a competent person to carry out the audit at Concept Design stage. SmartWaste records the audit and the demolition waste that follows, so you can compare the two. BRE offers pre-demolition audits. 

Yes. SmartWaste covers waste, carbon, materials, biodiversity and social value, so you can use the data you record for an assessment in your company sustainability reporting too. 

Discover the complete SmartWaste platform 

Learn how SmartWaste helps construction companies record and report waste, carbon, materials, biodiversity and social value across their projects.