Only 40% of contractors understand what they are meant to do with site waste despite the introduction of swingeing new regulations, backed up with unlimited fines, in April.

A survey by the South East Centre for the Built Environment (SECBE) found a lack of enforcement at local level encouraged the industry to break the law.

Tina McGeachan, SECBE marketing manager, said: 鈥淎 lot of contractors are failing to show an understanding of the requirements. There鈥檚 confusion as to who is responsible.鈥

Site waste management plans are required on jobs above 拢300,000. The client and the principal contractor on the job bear joint responsibility to predict and measure waste amounts and movement and to update the plan as the job progresses.